The incidence of known diabetics among US army active duty dental patients

Diabetes affects an estimated 16 million Americans. The purpose of this stu dy was to determine the incidence of known diabetes among active duty soldi ers by reviewing medications dispensed for diabetes at a large military ins tallation. This study was conducted from July 31, 1997, through August 1, 1 998. Fifty-eight (0.18%) members of the total active duty male population o f 32,593 had been dispensed diabetes medications, whereas 43 (0.48%) member s of the total female active duty population of 8,898 had been dispensed me dications for diabetes, Gestational diabetes was the cause for 88.37% of th e total active duty females dispensed diabetic medication at Fort Hood, Tex as. The female-to-male ratio for diabetes was 2.7:1. Diabetics made up 0.27 % of the total population.