More than a quarter of residents surveyed for health have been found to have elevated blood sugar — but the community is showing “surprising resistance” to taking part in the study.

Health Minister Jeanne Atherden reported an “unanticipated drop” in the number of interviews for the ongoing STEPS to a Well Bermuda survey.

In an address to the House of Assembly, the Minister called the study “historic” for the Island.

The initiative has already spotted persons at risk of chronic disease: blood sugar checks show 25 percent of participants with upper normal range “fasting blood glucose” — referring to the levels of blood sugar after several hours without eating.

However, there has been a less than 70 percent participation rate, and nearly 50 percent of participants who complete the first two stages don’t finish all four steps of the survey, Ms Atherden said.