STATISTICAL STUDY OF 6,000 CASES OF DIABETES

Abstract

The incidence of diabetes is between 1 and 2%, is low in the first 3 decades, rises in the 4th decade and from the 5th decade on it is greatest. In this series 43.3% were males, 56.7% females. Blood sugar on admission varied from less than 120 mg.%-1000 mg.%. Glycosuria at a low level of blood sugar, 120 mg.% or less, was present in 360 cases or 6.3%. Heredity in this series was found in 19.13%, 7.3% familial and 11.83% hereditary. In children it was 31.5%, slightly higher in the Jewish children. 62% of the males and 69% of the females in this series were or had been 11 or more % overweight. Reduction in wt. improved carbohydrate tolerance. Recessions here do occur. Infection plays a definite part in the etiology of diabetes; syphilis plays but a small role. The most frequent cause of death among these diabetics, 639 cases, was cardiorenal disease, next diabetic coma, then postoperative deaths, then pneumonia.