SOCIAL-CONSEQUENCES OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS ARE LIMITED - A POPULATION-BASED COMPARISON OF YOUNG-ADULT PATIENTS VS HEALTHY CONTROLS

In a population-based study, the social situation of 91 young adult pa tients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) since childhood was compar ed to that of an age- and sex-matched group of 189 healthy persons. Th eir mean age was 37.2 years, duration of diabetes 28.7 years and sever e complications were present in 13 of the 91 patients. A nearly 10-fol d increased mortality rate was found in diabetic patients, mainly due to diabetic nephropathy and trauma, including suicide. The employment rate was lower in diabetic patients (71 % vs 85 %, p < 0.05); the need for welfare benefits was greater (15 % vs 3 %, p < 0.01). These diffe rences were mainly the consequence of diabetic late complications. Edu cation, housing conditions, life style, civil state, alcohol and smoki ng habits were similar in both groups. Confidence in the future was sl ightly less in diabetic patients (p < 0.05). In conclusion, besides an increased mortality rate, the present study has shown no serious soci al consequences in adult Type 1 diabetic patients without severe late complications, as compared to matched controls. Our results indicate t hat IDDM affects social life only to a limited extent, in the absence of severe vascular complications.