DIABETES-MELLITUS IN THE JAMAICAN ELDERLY

10.2% of 1318 people aged 60 to 97 years old interviewed in a communit y based survey in Jamaica reported that they had type II diabetes mell itus, and this war confirmed by appropriate blood and urine tests. The disease occurred more frequently in females (12.6%) of 669 interviewe d) than in males (7.8% of 649 interviewed), and was detected in an add itional 2.96% of the study group who were not aware that they had the disease. Among the group of diabetics, 60.25% also reported that they were hypertensive, 63.1% were faking oral anti-diabetic tablets, and 2 0.4% reported having the disease for more than 20 years. 89.5% of the entire study group, and 88% of the diabetic population, were functiona lly independent.