Age at diagnosis and duration of type 2 diabetes seen in Benin City, Nigeria

It has been reported that type 2 diabetes is occurring at an earlier age than previously. We have therefore studied the age at diagnosis and duration of type 2 diabetes among Nigerians. There were 732 patients studied, of whom 467 (64%) were female. Mean age was 58±11 years, and mean diabetes duration was 5±5 years. The commonest age at diagnosis was in the fifth decade and 69% of the patients had been diagnosed within the last 5 years. This may be due to increased rates of diagnosis of diabetes, or high mortality in those with a longer duration of diabetes