The epidemiology of diabetes and its complications in New Zealand.

New Zealand is a country in the South Pacific with a high proportion of Polynesians. While the prevalence of diabetes appears the same in New Zealand Europeans as Europeans elsewhere, Maori and Pacific Islands people have a 2 to 4-fold excess prevalence of diabetes. Although Europeans make up the majority of diabetic New Zealanders, the greatest concern lies with the Maori and Pacific Islands patients who experience an earlier age at diagnosis, greater obesity, higher rates of smoking (in Maori), poorer diabetes knowledge, poorer glucose control, and more end stage renal failure and blindness. Efforts are now being made to control the current epidemic.