Long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in diabetics

Of 147 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease who were treated in our CAPD program between 1978 and 1991, 6 men and 1 woman (5 had type II and 2 type I diabetes) with a mean age of 54 (range 21-70) years have been on CAPD for more than five years (mean: 76 mos, range: 65-109 mos) and on peritoneal dialysis (IPD+CAPD) for an average of 85 (range: 67-118) mos. They had a variety of comorbid conditions at the start of CAPD: Retinopathy (5/7), blindness (3/7), hypertension (5/7), peripheral neuropathy (7/7), peripheral vascular disease (3/7), congestive heart failure (3/7), myocardial infarction (1/7), ischemic heart disease (2/7). Two were smokers and five over the age of 65. Peritonitis rate was 1 episode/11.4 pt mos, exit-site infection 1/76.4 pt mos and average hospitalization rate 32.8 days/patient/year. Hypertension was well-controlled with discontinuation of all medications; after initiation of CAPD two of them remained without medications throughout the study but in the rest, medications had to be restarted. As assessed by HbA1c, blood glucose control improved with IP administration of insulin. Residual renal function progressively decreased. None of them developed severe hyperparathyroidism. Peripheral neuropathy remained stable in four and deteriorated in two. Total protein, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides decreased during the last two years indicating a degree of malnutrition. Our experience with these seven patients suggests that diabetic patients, even the aged and those with many comorbid conditions and complications, can survive for long periods on CAPD.