DIABETES-MELLITUS IN ICELAND - PREVALENCE, ORGANIZATION OF SERVICES, PREGNANCY OUTCOME AND LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS

In keeping with the St. Vincent Declaration the state and outcome of d iabetes care in Iceland has been evaluated. In 1974 the management of diabetes was centralized at the diabetic clinic, the National Universi ty Hospital, Reykjavik. In 1989 a validated prevalence of Type I (insu lin-dependent) diabetes was 1.44/1,000 (population 251,742) and the es timated prevalence of Type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes treated with oral antidiabetics was 5.36/1,000. When compared to the other No rdic countries, Iceland has the lowest prevalence of both types of dia betes mellitus. During 1981-1990 there were 86 diabetic pregnancies wi th a perinatal mortality of 2.3%, with no perinatal mortality from 198 3. Fetal anomalies were 2.3%. The prevalence of diabetic blindness is approximately 0.3% for both Type I and Type II diabetes. The prevalenc e of diabetic end-stage renal failure is also very low with only 7 dia betic (5 Type I and 2 Type II) patients having needed dialysis since 1 968. Of all patients who have needed dialysis in Iceland, diabetic pat ients represent only 7%. Of the 5 Type I diabetic patients 4 have rece ived kidney transplants and no longer require dialysis.