ISSN:
1432-0428
Keywords:
Epidemiology
;
insulin-treated diabetes
;
prevalence
;
heterogeneity
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary We report the clinical characteristics of all insulin-treated diabetic patients (783 males and 716 females) living on July 11973 in a Danish county. In 18 patients diabetes was believed to be secondary to another disease or condition. Of all patients, 43% of the males and 55% of the females were 〉 age 50 years and 42% and 36% of males and females, respectively, had a disease duration of 〈 10 years. The overall proportion of patients treated permanently with insulin from diagnosis was 85% and 79% in males and females, respectively, but within the subgroup of patients with current age 〈 30 years these proportions were 99% and 96%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that insulin-treated diabetes is a clinically heterogeneous group of diseases; thus, low age at onset combined with immediate and permanent insulin treatment delineate one subtype, while relatively high age at onset and late start and/or interruption of insulin treatment delineate other subtype(s). It is estimated that the proportion of patients with truly Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes is 〉 50% in this cross-sectional population of insulin-treated patients.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00279934
