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One injection of NPH insulin in the evening in combination with oral hypoglycemic drugs may be more effective and safe than other insulin treatment regimens for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Among 153 patients with NIDDM, 28 were treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs and one injection of NPH insulin in the evening, 32 with oral hypoglycemic drugs and one injection of NPH insulin in the morning, 29 with two injections per day of NPH and regular insulin, 30 with an injection of NPH insulin in the morning and regular insulin before meals and 30 with oral hypoglycemic drugs alone. The improvement in hypoglycemic control was significantly greater in patients treated with insulin than for those treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs alone. Patients treated with one injection of insulin in the evening were less likely to gain weight or to suffer from increased blood levels of insulin than those who were treated with the other insulin regimens.

The population aged 85 years or over (n=674) living in Tampere, Finland was surveyed in 1977–78. Altogether 561 persons (83%), 99 men and 462 women, were examined. A re-examination of 170 persons, 23 men and 147 women, was carried out in 1982 by the same procedure as in 1977–78, The results were compared with those of the same people and with those of over-90s five years before. Of the group followed, in the initial survey 65% were living at home and 25% in old people's homes, 10% being hospitalized. The percentage of hospital in-patients had increased threefold during the five-year follow-up. The functional capacity of the subjects had deteriorated as regards mental function and ability to walk. The mean values of blood samples (apart from ESR) were still in normal ranges, although the levels of haemoglobin and haematocrit had fallen significantly. Dementia or confusion, anaemia, femoral-neck fracture and cataract were significantly increased. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A series of 543 people, aged 85 years or more was studied and divided into groups according to haematocrit value. The mortality of the subjects was followed over the next 5 years. The mortality in the lowest haematocrit groups was highest during the whole observation period. Further, in the haematocrit bracket ≧0.48, the mortality in the first year was higher than in those with haematocrit 0.40–0.47. In the second year this increased mortality had disappeared and in the third-fifth years decreased mortality was found with high haematocrit. Initially high haematocrit also decreased during the observation period. Since the increased mortality associated with high haematocrit disappeared it cannot be based on any chronic disease but on some disappearing factor, e.g. simply the high haematocrit itself. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The population aged 85 years or over (n = 674) living in Tampere, Finland, was surveyed in 1977–78. Altogether, 561 persons (83%)—99 men and 462 women—were examined. The study comprised questionnaire, medical examination, laboratory tests, ECG and chest X-ray examination. Of the subjects, 24% were hospitalized, 22% were in old people's homes and 54% lived at home. The most common symptoms were aches and pains (24%), vertigo (22%), defective vision (15%) and defective hearing (12%). Congestive heart failure (49%), dementia or confusional state (28%) and urinary tract infection (22%) were the most common diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The population aged 85 years or over (n=674) living in Tampere, Finland was surveyed in 1977–1978. In an investigation of the prognostic survival of new and previously diagnosed diabetic patients, the levels of blood glucose were analysed in 558 persons, 99 men and 459 women. The relative sex-and age-adjusted survival rates were evaluated at the 5-year follow-up. The mortality after 5 years of the 17 new diabetics at home did not differ significantly from that of the 225 non-diabetics at home. The mortality of 30 patients with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus was higher than that of the non-diabetics. The survival prognosis of the diabetics on antidiabetic medication did not differ from that of those on diet. An increased risk of mortality was found in this series in previously diagnosed diabetics and—most unexpectedly—in non-diabetics with the lowest fasting blood-glucose levels. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]