Medical examiner cases associated with previously undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, North Carolina, 1994

Citation
Ra. Bell et al., Medical examiner cases associated with previously undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, North Carolina, 1994, SOUTH MED J, 91(2), 1998, pp. 151-154
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
SOUTHERN MEDICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
00384348 → ACNP
Volume
91
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
151 - 154
Database
ISI
SICI code
0038-4348(199802)91:2<151:MECAWP>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Background. Approximately half of the 16 million Americans with diabetes me llitus (DM) are unaware they have the disease; the epidemiology of death fr om previously undiagnosed DM is unclear. We report medical examiner (ME) ca ses of death from DM in North Carolina in 1994 to determine the number and characteristics of these cases. Methods. Deaths from DM ICD-9 were identified and reviewed. Results. Of the 42 cases ascertained from ME records, 6 had previously undi agnosed DM, 5 had diabetes ketoacidosis, and 1 had nonketotic hyperosmolar hyperglycemia. Mean patient age at death for all cases was 42 years (range, 35 years to 57 years). Four patients felt bad at least 24 hours before dea th, indicating that they are not technically "sudden deaths." Conclusions. We provide a limited epidemiologic perspective of the phenomen on of death from undiagnosed DM. We suggest further investigation of mortal ity from previously undiagnosed diabetes.