Findings among 100 type 2 diabetics in a clinic in Penang, Malaysia, 1983-84.

A Specialist Clinic was commenced in August 1983, from the Medical School at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia to assess: 1) the present control and 2) the incidence of complications in a diabetic population already receiving primary health care at Penang General Hospital. The ethnic groups among the diabetics were Chinese (39%), Malays (26%) and Indian (35%). There was a greater percentage of Indians than would be expected from the ethnic distribution of the population of Penang. The results of the first 100 (43 males and 57 females) non-insulin dependent diabetic patients are reviewed. The mean age was 54 years, 41% had relatives with diabetes, and all were taking oral agents. The diet comprehension and compliance were poor. 65% of the group, 54% of males and 75% of females were obese. The mean blood glucose was 11 m.mols/l (fasting) and 12.8 m.mols/1 (2 hours post prandial). The complications seen in the 100 diabetics were: albuminurea 41, skin infection 37, cataracts 35, hypertension 32, peripheral sensory neuropathy 32, retinopathy 22, ischaemic heart disease 19, autonomic neuropathy 10, impaired renal function 4 (urea or creatinine elevated), foot ulcer 2 and gangrene 1. Urinalysis for glucose at the Clinic showed very little correlation with blood glucose at the same time. Nine out of 43 males admitted to impotence on questioning. Comparisons of findings in Penang were made with recent studies in Singapore and Hong Kong.