Does hyperglycaemia have an influence upon colour vision of patients with diabetes mellitus?

It has been suggested that variations found in colour vision upon repeated testing may be due to fluctuations in the plasma glucose level, but the results of studies to date are conflicting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether a short-term increase in plasma glucose concentration had an influence on colour vision in patients with non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (n = 16). The colour vision and plasma glucose levels were monitored every 30 min for a total period of 4 h during three test conditions: two when the plasma glucose levels were increased by the administration of glucose, either orally (n = 8) or intravenously (n = 8), and one when the plasma glucose was relatively stable during fasting conditions (n = 8).

A hospital survey of the care of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

Elderly diabetic patients are at especially high risk of developing hypoglycaemia, diabetic retinopathy, foot ulcers and infection. We have surveyed 100 elderly diabetic inpatients to assess level of diabetes supervision, prevalence of risk factors for complications, and uptake of chiropody and fundoscopic services. Of all the diabetic patients, 19% received no supervision.

Dominant risk factors for retinopathy at clinical diagnosis in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

A study of 270 newly presenting, previously untreated, type II diabetic patents revealed that 38 patients (14%) had already developed diabetic retinopathy (DR). Among this group, 26 patients had lesions of background diabetic retinopathy and 12 patients already had maculopathy or preproliferative changes. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors influencing susceptibility to retinopathy, and to provide an accurate predictive value for diabetic retinopathy from a detailed multiple regression analysis that involved 27 demographic variables and the metabolic and hormonal responses during a meal tolerance test (MTT) at presentation.

Cholesterol rich apo B containing lipoproteins and smoking are independently associated with macrovascular disease in normotensive NIDDM patients.

A cross-sectional study of macrovascular disease (MVD) and associated metabolic and other risk factors was conducted in 87 normotensive NIDDM patients. MVD was assessed by Rose questionnaire, 12 lead resting ECG, duplex scanning of carotid and peripheral vessels, and ankle:brachial systolic blood pressure ratio. Fasting serum total cholesterol, total triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins AI and B, lipoprotein (a), HbA1, plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide responses to a carbohydrate rich meal, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, urinary albumin excretion rate, blood pressure, smoking and family history were assessed as possible 'risk factors'.

Longitudinal study of visual functions in young insulin dependent diabetics.

The aim of this study was to compare the visual functions of a group of young insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients (IDDMs), (n = 42) with an age and sex matched control group (n = 24). Examinations were carried out every 3 months for 2 years. There were no significant differences in visual acuity between IDDMs and control subjects.