Characteristics of subjects with diabetes mellitus diagnosed before 35 years of age presenting to a tertiary diabetes clinic in Durban, South Africa, from 2003 to 2016. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Govender, Prevendri; Elmezughi, Khaled; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Paruk, Imran; Pirie, Fraser James; Motala, Ayesha Ahmed
• Is Part Of: JEMDSA. Volume 23:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: diabetes in youth -- South Africa; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Diabetes -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Periodicals; Endocrine System Diseases; Metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes; Endocrinology; Metabolism; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.1080/16089677.2017.1417779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1608-9677

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Most patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus < 35 years will have type 1 diabetes (T1D). The increase in youth-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) parallels the obesity epidemic and in African subjects ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes (KPD) may occur in this age group. Objectives, setting and subjects: To evaluate the clinical, biochemical and immunologic characteristics of patients diagnosed with diabetes < 35 years presenting to a tertiary diabetes clinic in Durban, South Africa over 13 years. Design: A retrospective chart review of patients < 35 years diagnosed with diabetes was conducted. Data included clinical and laboratory variables, complications and follow-up status. Results: The study included 517 patients of whom 445 (86.1%) were diagnosed with T1D, 27 (5.2%) with T2D, 27 with KPD (5.2%) and 18 (3.5%) with other forms of diabetes. Mean age of the total group was 28 ± 10 years. Subjects with T1D were younger at diagnosis with a lower BMI than both T2D and KPD. HbA1c was higher in subjects with T1D. Overall mortality was low (3.5%) and follow-up was poor in all groups. Conclusion: The majority of young people with diabetes in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, have T1D, with small numbers of other types. Glucose control is poor with a high loss to follow-up.