Original researchPrevalence and screening for risk factors of type 2 diabetes in Rize, Nourtheast Turkey: findings from a population-based study

•We examined the factors that increase risk for diabetes in the population.•Aging and low educational level increase the risk of diabetes.•Lack of exercise and higher waist circumference increase the development of diabetes.•Having a family history of diabetes is at a 15-fold increased risk for diabetes.•People with hypertension and heart disease have 2-4 fold increased risk of diabetes.

AimsWe aimed to determine the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes, risk factors affecting the healthy population, and factors that increase diabetes risk in the adult northeast Turkish population.MethodsUsing population proportional cluster sampling, 930 adults were selected. After excluding people with diabetes, risk screening was conducted in the healthy population (n: 825) using the Information Form and FINDRISK questionnaire. Fasting venous blood and biochemical parameters were measured.ResultsPrevalence of diabetes was 13.6% (new % 2.3), translating to approximately 44 thousand adults. Among the healthy population, 37.5% had high risk. Prevalence of not exercising (78.2%), obesity (36.1%), and hypertension (24.5%) were high. Predictors of risk of diabetes were aging (OR 1.09), low education (OR 0.51), familial diabetes history (OR 15.27), not exercising (OR 0.41), obesity (OR 5.17), high waist circumference (OR 1.05), heart disease (OR 4.81), and hypertension (OR 2.60).ConclusionsThis study can stimulate early screening for cardiovascular diseases and hypertension and initiating aggressive treatments in people with high diabetes risk. In primary health services, number of doctors and nurses trained in diabetes should be increased and dieticians should be involved. People with high risk should receive lifestyle regulations training.