RESUMEN
A study was conducted between January 1984 and March 1985 to determine the prevalence of diabetes in the adult population of Guadeloupe (18 years of age and over). A two-step sampling frame, using a sampling fraction of 0.46%, where the primary units were composed of districts and where sub-units were households, was used. The household refusal rate was 22%. Subjects were classified as 'diabetic' when they were either already known or when their fasting plasma glucose was above 8.0 mmol/l. The total age and sex standardized prevalence of diabetes among the adult population of Guadeloupe can be estimated at 6.6%. The high prevalence rate appears to be related to obesity (strongly in women), a genetic susceptibility (22.5% of age standardized prevalence among subjects of Asian Indian origin for both sexes), and, possibly, in men of African origin only, to a maternal history of diabetes.