[Diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes].

A new definition of diabetes is just about to be adopted by WHO. The main change concerns the glycemic threshold for diagnosis of diabetes. Its value will decrease from 7.7 mmol/L to 7 mmol/L. This drop is neither the consequence of a methodological change (diabetes remains defined by glycemic values at risk of retinopathy) nor a revision of the gold standard (glycemic value > or = 11 mmol/L at 2 h. post glucose load remains the most accurate criterion for diagnosis). The only purpose of the new definition is to better correlate fasting glycemia with the 2 h. post load value during OGTT. So, the new definition of diabetes with a glycemic value > or = 7 mmol/L will allow to do diagnosis without OGTT. The WHO experts hope that this simplification will improve the earliness of diagnosis and treatment. WHO will propose to categorize 3 groups according to glycemic values: normal values < 6.05 mmol/L, diabetic values > 7 mmol/L, and impaired fasting glucose encompassing values above normal but below the diagnosis cut-off for diabetes (plasma glucose > or = 6.05 mmol/L to < 7.0 mmol/L). This impaired fasting glucose should be considered as a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.