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Predicting the Need for Insulin Therapy in Late Onset (40–69 Years) Diabetes Mellitus
Author(s) -
Lyons T. J.,
Kennedy L.,
Atkinson A. B.,
Buchanan K. D.,
Hadden D. R.,
Weaver J. A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1984.tb01938.x
Subject(s) - medicine , insulin , diabetes mellitus , body weight , insulin response , endocrinology , prospective cohort study , weight loss , plasma glucose , obesity
A six‐year prospective study of 144 newly diagnosed, symptomatic diabetic patients aged 40–69 years showed that 21 (15%) required insulin therapy, commencing 1–61 months after diagnosis. The plasma insulin response to oral glucose was assessed at the time of diagnosis. All 12 patients with very low peak insulin response (≤6 mU/l) required insulin therapy. Thirty‐six patients had an intermediate insulin response (>6≤18 mU/l); of these, 7 with a mean weight 88% (range 73–96%) of average body weight required insulin, while 29 with a mean weight 117% (range 98–158%) of average body weight, did not. Ninety‐six patients had a peak insulin response (>18mU/l); 2 patients whose weights were 96% and 100% of average body weight, required insulin, while the remainder did not. Consideration of initial body weight and peak insulin response provides a useful prediction of the eventual need for insulin.