DIABETES-MELLITUS IN DANISH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS - PREVALENCE ANDLATE DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS

The prevalences of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), diabetes mellitus and late diabetic complications were studied in all Danish cystic fib rosis (CF) patients. A total of 311 CF patients were identified with a n estimated ascertainment rate above 98%. Glucose tolerance was classi fied in 278 (89%) patients: the prevalences of IGT and diabetes mellit us were 13.7% (38 patients) and 14.7% (41 patients), respectively, wit h no sex differences. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased wi th age but not with the severity of CF as compared with age- and sex-m atched non-diabetic CF patients. Diabetes was diagnosed at a median ag e of 20 years (range 3-40 years) and the duration of diabetes was 1.7 years (0.1-17 years). Twenty-eight of the diabetic patients (70%) were treated with insulin, on average 20 (4-90) IU per day. Late diabetic complications were identified in 4 patients (10%) with a duration of d iabetes mellitus of 1-17 years: background retinopathy (2 patients), d iabetic nephropathy (1 patient), microalbuminuria(I patient) and neuro pathy (2 patients). Thus diabetic CF patients are probably not less pr one-to develop late diabetic complications than patients with other ty pes of diabetes of equally long duration and comparable glycemic contr ol.