Thank you for visiting nature. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer. In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. An increase in the diabetes prevalence is reported worldwide. We aimed to determine the diabetes prevalence and its risk factors among adults in a rural area of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in inhabitants, selected by five stages, in the Health Zone of Gombe-Matadi. We measured body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure. Mann Whitney's and chi-square tests compared respondents with non-respondents. Multivariable logistic regression measured associations between diabetes and its risk factors.
Crude and standardized prevalence of diabetes were 6. Undiagnosed diabetes accounted for The oral glucose tolerance test alone diagnosed 2. Diabetes in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo appears to be underdiagnosed. The oral glucose tolerance test provides an opportunity to screen individuals for diabetes in this setting.
According to the International Diabetes Federation IDF , in , three-fourths of patients with diabetes lived in low-income countries 2. Currently, diabetes is experiencing an accelerated increase in Africa as in other developing areas 3. This is attributed to various factors, such as fast economic development and urbanization 4 , leading to rapid changes of the population towards unhealthy lifestyles, such as lack of physical activity and sub-optimal diets, leading to excess weight and the onset of cardiometabolic risk factors.
Gender also plays a role in this increase. Some studies shows a higher risk for type 2 diabetes in adult men 5 and a higher type 2 diabetes prevalence, mainly in older men.
