[Selective screening for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A study among 35-69 year-old patients at risk in general practice in Kolding]. / Selektiv screening for ikkeinsulinkraevende diabetes mellitus. Undersøgelse blandt 35-69-årige risikopatienter i almen praksis i Kolding.

ABSTRACT

In order to identify previously undiagnosed cases of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) in general practice, we measured non-fasting blood-glucose in all risk patients (n = 1,790) between 35-69 years old belonging to 29 general practices in Kolding. Patients at risk for NIDDM were defined as those suffering from one or more of the following overweight, arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidaemia, stroke, gout, cataract, Dupuytren's contracture, peripheral atherosclerosis or recurrent urinary- or skin-infections. A positive result, defined as a non-fasting blood-glucose of > or = 8.0 mmol/l using the same stix-lot-nr. on Refloflux S machines, was found in 86 individuals. These were then followed up with two fasting blood-glucose measurements carried out in a central laboratory, whereby 34 patients with NIDDM were identified. The newly-diagnosed NIDDM patients mostly suffered from diseases related to the insulin resistance syndrome, and we thus recommend measurement of non-fasting blood-glucose as a screening procedure in such patients. When carrying out measurements in general practice, it is important to know the precision and accuracy of the apparatus used.