Diabetes nephropathy as seen in Kenyatta National Hospital in 1989

Abstract

Between June 1989 and December 1989, a total of 359 diabetic patients were seen and screened for proteinuria. 156 patients were females and 203 males, a male:female ratio Of 4:3. Their ages ranged from 11 years to 90 years the mean age being 51.8 years. Most of the patients were noninsulin dependent (65.2%). Clinical diabetic nephropathy was found in 57 (15.8%) of the patients. The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy increased with duration of diabetes in the insulin dependent diabetics the lowest prevalence being 3.2% at 0 to 5 years of diabetes mellitus and the highest 60% at 16 to 20 years. However, this relationship between the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and duration of diabetes was not found in the non-insulin dependent diabetics. Diabetic retinopathy was found in 73.6% of the patients . with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension in 35%.