[Diabetes mellitus--particularly with cardiac and renal problems]

The worldwide incidence of diabetes mellitus is high and clearly on the rise. The incidence in children keeps increasing and amounts to approx. 12.7/100,000 for type 1 and an astonishing 1.7/100,000 for type 2 in under 19-year-olds (German Diabetes Society). This review looks at various international studies on diabetes-related complications, morbidity and mortality. The studies demonstrate that overall prognosis depends on type of diabetes, gender, complications and age at onset. Regardless of the type of diabetes, mortality is mainly caused by vascular and renal complications. Changing diet and lifestyle patterns are leading to a growing number of children with type 2 diabetes. Obviously valid mortality studies are not available as yet. For the time being the question remains open whether mortality among 10-year-old type 1 patients is higher than among 10-year-old type 2 patients. This group is in the focus of international research and will be of importance in future life and health underwriting.