Beginning in FY 1989, Michael Stern and associates carried out an epidemiologic study of type II diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular risk factors in a low-income barrio of Mexico City and compared results to those obtained in San Antonio. They recruited and interviewed subjects for data on demographics, socioeconomic status, level of acculturation, medical history, health habits including diet, physical exercise, and smoking. The physical examination included blood pressure, obesity, body fat distribution, skin color, the latter to estimate percent Native American genetic admixture. The laboratory examination included measurements of lipids and lipoproteins, an oral glucose tolerance test to determine the prevalence of diabetes according to the National Diabetes Data Group criteria, fasting and post-glucose load insulin concentrations, and genetic markers.