INCIDENCE OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES (IDDM) AND NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES (NIDDM) (0-34 YEARS AT ONSET) IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA

The incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and non-insulin-dep endent diabetes (NIDDM) in Benghazi, Libya in the < 35-year age group during the period 1981-1990 are reported. Incidence data for IDDM were based on prospective registration of patients while incidence data fo r NIDDM were based on analysis of files. Case ascertainment of IDDM ca ses was estimated to be > 95%. Incidence of total diabetes (IDDM and N IDDM) (per 100 000 population) was significantly higher in females (43 .8; 95% confidence Interval (CI) 40.6-47.2) than in males (28.9, 26.6- 31.3) (P < 0.001). The overall incidence rates of IDDM and NIDDM were 9.0 (CI, 8.1-10.0) and 27.3 (CI, 25.4-28.2), respectively. Rates of ID DM were 9.4 (CI, 8.1-10.9) among males and 8.5 (CI, 7.3-10.0) among fe males. Rates of NIDDM were 19.6 (CI, 18.1-22.2) among males and 35.3 ( CI, 32.4-37.8) among females. IDDM patients showed a female predominan ce in the 0- to 14-year age range (P > 0.05) and a male predominance i n the 15- to 34-year age range (P > 0.05). NIDDM showed equal incidenc e in males and females in the 0- to 14-year age range and twofold high er incidence in females than in males in the 15- to 34-year age group (P < 0.001). Yearly variation and seasonality of onset were not signif icant in IDDM cases (P > 0.05). Fifty-six percent of NIDDM cases were obese compared to only 6% of IDDM cases. The study revealed that diabe tes mellitus is a common chronic disease in children and young Libyan Arabs. It has shown that NIDDM in Benghazi is twofold higher in female s than in males in the 15- to 34-year age group. It has also shown tha t age per se is not a reliable criterion for the classification of dia betes into IDDM and NIDDM.