Table 1 Baseline characteristics. Values are medians (interquartile ranges) or number (%)

Age at diagnosis (years)

63.6 (54.1-71.4)

67.5 (57.8-75.4)

65.3 (55.8-73.6)

Diagnostic plasma glucose (mmol/l)

13.7 (10.8-16.9)

13.7 (10.5-17.0)

13.7 (10.7-17.0)

Total cholesterol (mmol/l)

6.1 (5.2-6.9)

6.3 (5.6-7.3)

6.2 (5.4-7.1)

Triglyceride (mmol/l)

1.96 (1.38-3.01)

1.97 (1.42-2.85)

1.96 (1.40-2.91)

Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

144 (130-160)

155 (140-170)

150 (130-160)

Body mass index (kg/m²)

29.0 (26.3-31.7)

29.6 (26.0-33.7)

29.2 (26.2-32.8)

Urinary albumin (mg/ml)

13.3 (7.0-36.0)

9.7 (4.8-21.1)

11.6 (5.8-29.1)

Cardiovascular disease

214 (31.3)

178 (29.4)

392 (30.4)

Diabetic retinopathy

33 (5.3)

23 (4.2)

56 (4.8)

Peripheral neuropathy

139 (20.0)

112 (18.4)

251 (19.3)

Known cancer

26 (3.8)

51 (8.4)

77 (6.0)

Smoking

   Never

90 (13.2)

295 (48.8)

385 (29.9)

   Former

299 (43.8)

147 (24.3)

446 (34.6)

   Current

294 (43.0)

163 (26.9)

457 (35.5)

Physical activity

   Low

158 (23.2)

191 (31.5)

349 (27.1)

   Moderate

455 (66.9)

396 (65.2)

851 (66.1)

   High

67 (9.9)

20 (3.3)

87 (6.8)