The diabetes project at Fort Totten, North Dakota, 1984-1988.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize demographic, therapeutic, and complication features of patients in the Fort Totten Diabetes Project and to assess the longitudinal impact of intervention strategies.


METHODS
Individuals (n = 215) of varying American Indian ethnic origin and a quantum of mean age 53 yr (range 14-86 yr), 62% women, with type II diabetes of 9 yr average duration were studied. Annual chart audits of the complete diabetic population were conducted from 1984 to 1988.


RESULTS
Obesity is a major problem complicating diabetes management (average BMI 32 +/- 0.9), but BMI does not correlate with glucose control as assessed by total GHb (r = 0.014, NS). Individuals lost an average of 3.7 kg (P < 0.001) during the audit years. Mean GHb declined for the population (11.3-9.7%, P < 0.025) during the interval, but no significant decline was evident when values for individuals were considered. Complication rates for retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy paralleled those rates published for urban populations.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes mellitus in American Indians living in a rural, economically deprived area can be identified and cared for with success similar to that published for urban populations.
Newman
W P
WP
Fargo Veterans Medical Center, North Dakota.
Hollevoet
J J
JJ
Frohlich
K L
KL
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D003153:Community Health Services; D003710:Demography; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009658:North Dakota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States; D016549:United States Indian Health Service