Diabetes mellitus

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Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism associated with absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secretion and/or insulin action (Joslin, 1994).

Diabetes is an iceberg disease. Development of diabetes mellitus is associated with increased mortality and a high risk of developing vascular, renal, retinal and neuropathy complications leading to premature disability and death (WHO, 1985). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in adults is 4% worldwide and this means that over 143 million are now affected, 2002. The major determinants for projected increase in the number of diabetes in SEAR countries are population growth, age structure and urbanization. One of the most important epidemiological features of diabetes is that it is now common in the lower social classes (WHO, 1998). Health problem of urban area, mainly slum areas, can be conceived in term of affluence and scarcity. Diabetes being mainly a disease of elderly. It was decided to take up a study among one of the weaker section of society of scheduled caste adults of more than 50 years of age residing in the urban slums of Brahmapur town.