CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS WITH LONG-DURATION IN JAPAN - RELATION TO RISK-FACTORS FOR VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

In this study, we evaluated the control state of body weight, blood pr essure, and blood glucose during the recent 10 years in 82 patients of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) who had long duration of diabetes for 20-25 years without ischemic heart disease (IHD) and diabetic nephropathy (Neph). The patients without either IHD or Neph s howed significantly lower incidences of obese (11 vs. 40%, p < 0.05), hypertensive (0 vs. 20%, p < 0.05) and poor glycemic control state (7 vs. 27%, p < 0.05) for 10 years than the patients with IHD alone, and showed significantly lower incidences of hypertensive (0 vs. 20%, p<0. 05) and poor glycemic control state (7 vs. 33%, p < 0.01) than the pat ients with Neph alone. The control state of body weight was similar be tween the patients without either IHD or Neph and with Neph alone. In addition, the patients without either IHD or Neph showed significantly lower incidences of obese (11 vs. 56%, p < 0.01) and hypertensive con trol state (0 vs. 40%, p < 0.01) for 10 years than the patients with b oth IHD and Neph. The control state of blood glucose was similar betwe en the two groups. These results suggest that for long survival of NID DM patients without development or progression of IHD and Neph, non-ob ese and nonhypertensive state as well as good glycemic control should be maintained for long time.