ABSTRACT
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................179 Methods..........................................................................................................................................180 Results ............................................................................................................................................180 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................188 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................190 References ......................................................................................................................................191
Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a problem of public health in Mexico and Central America (CA). Barcelo and Rajpathak reported the highest prevalence rate (around 10%) of diagnosed type 2 DM among adults in Costa Rica and Mexico.1 Because of the lack of information, the recorded prevalence in the other countries of this region is moderate (around 3 to 6%); however, “taking in account that in most populations there are many people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes,” its prevalence is increasing.1 The number of deaths related to diabetes in Latin America and the Caribbean region, of which Mexico and Central America represent almost one fourth of the inhabitants, has been estimated at more than 400,000 per year.2
