In the 1998--2001 period we carried out a survey on a representative group of the Lublin Region inhabitants aged over 35. During the survey we found particularly high and so far underestimated prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Ischaemic heart disease and sudden heart death, which is related to it, are the most frequent DM 2 complications. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of selected ischaemic heart disease risk factors--obesity, central obesity, arterial hypertension, lipid disorders and the smoking habit--in the Lublin Region inhabitants in groups with correct and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) as well as newly diagnosed and known type 2 diabetes mellitus 2 (DM 2), and to compare them with each other. We found significantly higher prevalence of obesity, central obesity, arterial hypertension, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in the group with IGT and DM 2 compared to the group without IGT and DM 2. We did not find significant differences between the groups in total hypercholesterolemia and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia prevalence. Smoking percentage was significantly higher in persons without IGT and DM 2. Ischaemic heart disease risk factors related to the metabolic syndrome are significantly more frequent in persons with DM 2 and IGT. Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders should be a priority in diabetes care.