The present invention provides a method for assessing diabetes in an individual by characterization of a pulse waveform indicative of the response of a portion of the cardiovascular system of the individual to pressure pulses produced during the cardiac cycle, where “assessing diabetes” comprises determining the presence or likelihood of diabetes the degree of progression of diabetes a change in the presence, likelihood, or progression of diabetes a probability of having, not having, developing, or not developing diabetes the presence, absence, progression, or likelihood of complications from diabetes or a combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention comprise determining a measure of arterial compliance of the individual from the pulse waveform and assessing diabetes based on the measure of arterial compliance.
