RENAL RETINAL COMPLICATIONS AND RISK FACTORS IN NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS

The identification of factors associated with the prevalence of microvascular complications of Diabetes Mellitus helps to initiate measures which might prevent or modify the course of such complications. Epidemiological studies seeking to associate risk factors with microangiopathy in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) are limited. In the present study involving 558 subjects of NIDDM of varying duration, the prevalence of retinopathy and/or nephropathy was studied and the pattern of association of various risk factors predisposing to the development of microangiopathy, was outlined. The risk factors analysed were glycemic state, hypertension, duration of disease, lipid profile, obesity and smoking. Materials and Methods A total of 558 NIDDM patients comprising 344 males and 215 females with a mean age of 51.9 years were recruited. The mean duration of the disease was 5.9 years. A detailed clinical examination including fundus examination was carried out. The laboratory investigations done included blood sugar (fasting); HbAlc; Cholesterol, HDL, Triglyceride and 24 hour urinary protein excretion. Retinopathy was diagnosed by fundus examination while a 24 hour urinary protein excretion exceeding 500 mg was the cut-off point to diagnose nephropathy in the absence of other factors known to produce proteinuria.