Comprehensive management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A diabetes clinic revisited.
OBJECTIVE
To 'revisit' the Johannesburg Hospital diabetes clinic to ascertain whether the established risk factors for CAD were being identified and appropriately managed.


METHODS
Body mass indices (BMI), fasting lipograms and glycated haemoglobin (HBA) estimations were done on a random sample of white NIDDM patients aged over 35 years.


RESULTS
Eighty-two patients (39 males, 43 females) were tested. The mean age was 60 years (range 36-80 years) and the mean duration of NIDDM 6.2 years (range 1-25 years). The mean HBA value was 10% (normal 4-8%). Obesity was present in 82%; it was moderate (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) in 46% and severe (BMI > 30 kg/m2) in 36%. Hypercholesterolaemia was present in 46%, hypertriglyceridaemia in 68%, and both in 34%. Uncontrolled hypertension was present in 20% of patients, and 27% smoked.


CONCLUSIONS
Management of patients at our clinic remains confined to the control of hyperglycaemia. Despite increased awareness of the risk factors for CAD, these factors have largely been ignored.
Raal
F J
FJ
Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism Research Group, University of the Witwatararand, Johannesburg.
Taylor
D R
DR
Joffe
B I
BI
Seftel
H C
HC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors