Diabetes mellitus: a study utilizing the revised diagnostic criteria

ABSTRACT

A group of 167 patients with various degree of glucose inlerance or at high risk of developing glucose intolerance were followed for five years at the Caguas Family Practice Center. Patients were classified using the criteria proposed by the National Diabetes Data Group and were monitored for the development of a) diabetic complications, b) fasting glycemic control, c) changes in classification. There were 8 patients with IDDM, 55 patients with NIDDM and 104 patients in the high risk group. Only 6.2% of the high risk group developed complications while 87.5% of the IDDM and 67% of the NIDDM groups developed complications The most common overall complication was coronary artery disease. Three patients died of myocardial infarction during the study and nine patients changed classification. Two high risk patients developed overt diabetes, four shifted within the diabetic group, two within the high risk group and one diabetic regained a normal glucose tolerance