The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 36 No. 3 - Cardiovascular, Risk Factors, and Consequences

Understanding patients with Diabetic Nephropathy and its current day management in Primary Care

Titus Lau
The Singapore Family Physician Vol 36 No 3 - Cardiovascular, Risk Factors, and Consequences
19 - 22
1 July 2010
0377-5305
There are two groups of diabetic patients that we may encounter in our clinic practice, be it primary or tertiary care facilities. Type I Diabetes mellitus (Dm) is characterized by insulin deficiency at the onset of the disease and Type II Dm is characterized by insulin insensitivity (inability of cells to utilize glucose properly despite adequate insulin). Type I Dm is an autoimmune disease against the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas and tends to occur in the younger lean population (usually before age 30). Type II Dm on the contrary is more common in the older obese population (though recent trend showed an alarming increase of type II Dm even amongst teens albeit obese teens). There are presently more teens suffering from type II Dm than type I Dm worldwide.