The pattern of chronic complications in adult Ethiopian diabetics
Mengistu, M.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 25(4): 167-176
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 3665886 Document Number: 297833
Of 106 insulin-dependent (IDDM) and 202 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) consecutive Ethiopian diabetics (mean age .+-. standard deviation: 31.1 .+-. 12 and 46.0 .+-. 17, respectively) at a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa, about 30% of the IDDM were malnourished; 36% of NIDDM were obese; 16% of the IDDM and 29% of the NIDDM had diabetic relatives. Of the total NIDDM cases, 2.5% were on diet, and the rest on oral agents as well. Over 90% of IDDM and 53% of NIDDM had mean fasting blood glucose levels of 10 mmol/L or greater. The overall prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 52%, limite joint mobility 33%, retinopathy 31%, parotid enlargement 25%, hypertension 24%, nephropathy 23%, liver cirrhosis 17% and dermopathy 16%. Importence was found in 55% of males. Serum magnesium was low in 10 of 36 hypertensive diabetics, and serum cholesterol was raised in 10 of 28 diabetics with cardiovascular complications. Chronic complications increased with the duration of diabetes. Symptomatic tuberculosis was seen mainly in IDDM cases; renal and gall-bladder stones were seen in NIDDM cases. Five patients died during the study period: 2 from renal failure and 1 each from sepsis, hepatoma and suspected pancreatic carcinoma.