Features of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in the Sudan

413 NIDDM Sudanese patients were studied. The patients' ages at the onset of diabetes ranged from 20-72 years, with the majority of patients (44%) developing diabetes at the age between 40-50 years. Female to male ratio was 1.9:1. 46.2% of patients were obese and a family history of first degree relatives was obtained in 63% of patients. Complications of diabetes in this study were as follows: Neuropathy (31.5%), retinopathy (17.4%), cataract (16%), nephropathy (9.2%), coronary heart disease (5.1%), cerebrovascular disease (4.4%) and peripheral vascular disease (3.4%). Microangiopathic complications of diabetes were significantly related to the duration of diabetes and the degree of hyperglycaemia (P less than 0.001 using chi 2 test). Macroangiopathic complications were significantly related to aging and hyperglycaemia. Patients with good metabolic control (blood glucose less than 160 mg%) had less prevalence of complications than uncontrolled patients. We conclude that NIDDM is a common type of diabetes in our diabetic clinic. It is a disease with severe complications and morbidity and needs more attention regarding metabolic control, since good control reduces the prevalence of diabetic complications.