title: [Characteristics of the development of insulin need in primary diabetes of adults in Gabon].
abstract: In a span of 18 months 48 Gabonese adults with apparent primary diabetes were studied at the University Hospital of Libreville. 23 patients were first seen at the time of the clinical onset of the disease and 25 others were treated with insulin before their first hospitalization during this period. Initial insulin therapy seemed necessary for all the subjects but equilibration was generally easy and insulin could be discontinued in most cases after several months of treatment. These subjects did not fit the criteria for the classical insulin-dependent or non-insulin-dependent forms of diabetes and they had no antecedent of malnutrition. The acute clinical presentation might have been due to failing insulin secretion secondary to hyperglycemic beta-cell toxicity. Such an evolution has already been described in some black American diabetics with a family link. So, genetic factors could be essential in atypical forms of diabetes mellitus in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine, Centre Hospitalier de Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nguemby-Mbina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin
vernacular_title: Particularités de l'évolution des besoins en insuline dans le diabète primitif de l'adulte au Gabon.