Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in the Faroe Islands

•The study included 11.1% of the total population aged 40–74 years in the Faroe Islands.•Altogether 24.8% of the age adjusted study population had impaired glucose regulation.•Crude prevalence for diabetes was 9.5% and age adjusted 9.6%.•Faroe Islands have similar prevalence to other Nordic Countries.•The prevalence in the Faroe Islands was lower compared to results from Southern Europe and the US. To determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes among the population aged 40–74 years in the Faroe Islands. This population-based cross-sectional survey, conducted between 2011 and 2012, invited 2186 randomly selected individuals (corresponding to 11.1% of the entire population aged 40–74 years). Subjects were screened using finger capillary blood for glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1c, non-fasting random plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose followed by oral glucose tolerance test. The test was based on an algorithm that accounts for screening, diagnostic and confirmatory steps. Anthropometric measures and a questionnaire including medical history, medication, hereditary conditions, and food intake were included. The study included 1772 participants. Of the 1772, 169 (9.5%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus (3.0% of which were diagnosed upon study inclusion), thus 31.4% of subjects with diabetes were undiagnosed at the time of examination. A total of 271 (15.3%) had prediabetes. Diabetes was more prevalent among men, significantly from age ≥60 years. Women had lower mean fasting plasma glucose concentrations and men had lower values for 2-h plasma glucose. Predictors associated with diabetes mellitus included obesity (BMI ≥ 30), abnormal waist/hip ratio, history of hypertension or cardiovascular attack and family history of diabetes mellitus and leisure activity. The prevalences of diabetes and prediabetes increased with age and were more frequent among men. The detected prevalence in the Faroe Islands was slightly higher than other Nordic countries.