Insulin in the management of diabetes mellitus in Nigerians.

Insulin therapy was reviewed in 172 Nigerian diabetic patients. Insulin zinc suspension (IZS--lente) was the preparation most commonly used and therapy was free of side effects. Only a small number of the patients (students) had the problem of unrestricted physical activity and possibly irregular eating habits which might adversely influence insulin therapy. Although in the majority of cases, the age of onset of diabetes mellitus was under 21 years, insulin dependence covered a broad age spectrum. It was not possible to predict the severity of the diabetes from the age of onset. There was about equal chance that therapy might be changed from insulin to oral hypoglycaemic drugs or vice-versa.