DIABETTES MELLITUS IN SOLDIERS, WHAT’S NEW

Diabetes Mellitus in Soldiers

Abstract

Objective: To find out the frequency of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications in serving soldiers.
Study Design: Observational cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of study: This was carried out at the medicine department of CMH Multan, from Oct 2016 to Sep 2017.
Material and Methods: Admitted in active service soldiers with polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight changes and delayed wound healing in the Medical ward during this period meeting the criteria of DM according to American diabetic association (ADA) guidelines were included in this study. Non active soldiers, civilian employees and not meeting the DM criteria were excluded from the study. They were inquired in detail about the symptoms, examined and investigated thoroughly according to pre designed Performa, to find out their number and DM associated complications. The results were analyzed on IBM SPSS version 22.
Results: Out of seven hundred and seventy-two, 55 (7.12%) had diabetes mellitus. The age ranged from 25 to 50 years with mean age of 36.15 ± 5.542. 39 (71%) had type 2 and 16 (29%) type 1 DM. Twenty (36%) had DM associated complications, commonest being nephropathy, retinopathy i.e. 8 (14.5%) and 7 (12.7%) respectively; others were macro vascular, peripheral neuropathy with foot ulcer, diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar non ketotic coma (HONK), other associated complications were hypertriglyceridemia in 21 (38%) and 6 (11%) hypertension. About 22 (40%) had family history of DM and only one was obese.
Conclusion: Diabetes Mellitus and associated complications are not uncommon in young active soldiers.