title: Diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia: The clinical pattern and complications in 1,000 patients.
abstract: A retrospective and prospective study of 1,000 ambulatory and hospitalized diabetic patients was done in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudis completed 777 (77.7%) and non-Saudis 223 (22.3%). Sex distribution was equal among Saudis, males 389 (50.1%) and females 388 (49.9%), but non-Saudi males were predominant at 153 (68.6%), non-Saudi females 70 (31.4%) reflecting the preponderant male expatriate labor force. A proportion of different types of diabetes was: IDDM 115 (11.7%), non-obese non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) 405 (41.0%), obese NIDDM 412 (42.1%), and early onset non-insulin dependent diabetes (diagnosis under 30 years of age), 43 (4.4%). Regarding treatment, 388 (40.6%) received insulin followed by sulfonylurea, alone in 330 (33.5%), diet only 117 (12.0%), combination sulfonylurea and biguanide in 113 (11.6%), biguanide alone in 13 (1.3%) and insulin plus tablets in 7 (0.8%). Of 472 and 426 patients, 29.7% and 30.0% had elevated total cholesterol or triglycerides respectively, while 77.2% of 373 patients had elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1). At least once in 998 patients, diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in 7.6%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Famuyiwa
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sulimani
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Laajam
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Al-Jasser
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Mekki