[Angiologic findings in type 1 diabetics who have had diabetes longer than 25 years]

The authors present a group of type 1 diabetics with duration of IDDM longer than 25 years (15 men and 10 women), mean age 53.8 years, mean duration from diagnosis of IDDM 35.0 years. The authors performed angiologic examination by using noninvasive methods with focus on affections of extracranial carotid arteries and peripheral arteries by using ultrasonographic methods and by measuring skin perfusion pressure by the photocell of the plethysmograph on the fingers of lower extremities. The authors investigated the subsequent risk factors--obesity, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinaemias, ischaemic heart disease, strokes. Macroangiopathy of lower extremities was detected in 28.5%, hemodynamically nonsevere stenosis of the extracranial carotid arteries in 20% of patients. As a result, the authors emphasize the need for regular control of arterial changes in diabetics of type 1.