
The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS): clinical and therapeutic implications for type 2 diabetes
The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS): clinical and therapeutic implications for type 2 diabetes
1Jenny ONeill Diabetes Centre, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby, UK
2Division of Vascular Medicine, School of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
1Jenny ONeill Diabetes Centre, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby, UK
2Division of Vascular Medicine, School of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Correspondence: Dr I. Peacock, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, London Road, Derby, DE1 2QY, UK.
Note added in proof We wish to pay tribute to Robert Turner whose recent untimely death is such a tragedy.
Received 1999 Mar 15; Accepted 1999 Aug 24.
Keywords: antihypertensives, diabetic complications, glycaemic control, oral hypoglycaemic agents, type 2 diabetes, UKPDS
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Diabetes was first recognized 3500 years ago by the Ancient Egyptians. One of the first clinical descriptions was by Aretaeus, who practised in Cappadocia around 120 AD. He wrote that the condition was fortunately rare, but short will be the life of the man in whom the disease is fully developed [ 1 ].
In modern society, the first statement is far from true. The incidence of diabetes has doubled every 20 years since 1945 [ 2 ]. In 1994 the world wide prevalence of type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes was 99 million (1.8% of the population); by 2010 it is estimated that this figure will rise to 215 million (3.8%) [ 3 ].
The second statement is as true today as it was almost 2000 years ago. In the West, 44% of pat
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