Asma Shaukat, Tariq Mahmud Arain, Amna Shahid.
Clinical chemical pathology of Diabetics at the time of diagnosis at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, bahawalpur.
Pak J Pathol Jan ;16(4):110-3.

Objectives: To determine the clinical chemical pathology of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients at the time of diagnosis at Bahawal Victoria (BV) Hospital Bahawalpur. Study design: A hospital–based observational and prospective study. Place and duration of study: Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur,Jan 2000- Jan 2005. Material and Methods: 210 consecutive cases of diabetes mellitus (males=99, females=111, aged 20-80 years) presenting to the out patient department with varying complaints were included. A detailed history with special emphasis on symptoms and signs was conducted and the findings observed were noted on a previously made performa. The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was made on WHO Criteria as follows: Fasting plasma >=126mg/d1 and/or 2hour postglucose load >=200mg/dl. Differentiation between Type 1 and Type 2 was based on age of onset and mode of treatment. Subjects with unequivocal results were further investigated by OGTT. The OGTT and its interpretation was carried out according to the recommendations of WHO Expert Committee on Diabetes. Plasma Lipids were determined all of the study subjects. Results: Only 9.52 % of the study population presented with the classical symptoms of diabetes mellitus at BV Hospital Bahawalpur. Most of the diabetics presented to the BV Hospital with symptoms as generalized weakness with aches and pains, numbness of feet, infertility, vulvovaginitus, blindness etc. Although, in total, a high percentage of the patients had complaints of polyuria, polydipsia and decreased body weight but in most of them these were not their presenting complaints.These study subjects did not necessarily have one specific presenting complaint. Different patients had different combinations of complaints. Dyslipidaemia was found in 39% males and 48% females of the study subjects. 33.31% males and 19.82% females had a positive family history for diabetes mellitus 39.29% males and 24.73% females had hypertension, 26.36% males and 26.78% females were obese. On funduscopic examination of the diabetics 1%males and 2% females were found to have retinopathy. Macular edema was noted in one patient. Conclusion: Classical symptoms of Diabetes mellitus may not be present at the time of diagnosis. Dyslipidemia is present in many cases with a high incidence of hypertension and obesity. Due to high morbidity and complications, physicians should be vigilant in making an early diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

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