Complications of diabetes mellitus in Malawian Adults

One hundred Malawian adults with diabetes mellitus were examined for complications of the disease and results were compared with those obtained in age and sex matched controls. Impotence; hypertension; postural hypotension; lower limb pulse deficit; lower limb reflex loss; cataract; retinopathy and urine proteinuria were significantly more common in diabetes compared with controls. Complications were related to duration of disease. Apart from cataract (treated surgically in severe cases) and proliferative retinopathy; none of the observed complications resulted in serious disability