Objective - To describe the characteristics of people with diabetes (all types) in the French overseas departments (DOMs), their health status and quality of care (type 2), and to compare these with the situation in metropolitan France. Methods - For the 2007 Entred study, 855 people with diabetes were randomly selected in the DOMs. Data were derived from medical reimbursement records, a telephone survey of patients in the four DOMs, and a mail survey of treating physicians in Réunion. Results - In the DOMs, compared to mainland France, the diabetic population was younger (63 years vs. 65 years) and had a higher proportion of women (65% vs. 46%); the duration since diagnosis was similar (11 years). In Réunion, an HbA1c level of 6.5% was reported by 24% of physicians (vs. 32% in mainland France); the mean LDL cholesterol was 1.0 g/L (vs. 1.1 g/L); and blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg in 22% (vs. 15%). A cardiac complication was reported by 9% of patients (vs. 17%) and retinopathy by 22% of physicians in Réunion (vs. 8%). Over the course of the year and across the four French overseas departments, 36% (vs. 43% in mainland France) had undergone three HbA1c tests and 41% (vs. 28%) had undergone an albuminuria test. Discussion - The diabetic population in the French overseas departments is younger, for the same duration of diabetes, and consists of more women. Vascular risk is high, and the profile of complications differs, with a high frequency of retinopathy in Réunion. Renal risk is more widely recognized in the French overseas departments, but diabetes monitoring there is insufficient, as it is in mainland France. (R.A.)