[Studies on the incidence of diabetes mellitus in obese patients].

In a retrospective investigation 228 obese persons with healthy metabolism and diabetics (NIDD) were invited to a check-up 4-10 years after a reduction of weight which was performed during a clinical treatment in the 2nd Medical Clinic of Halle University. 95 patients did not comply with the invitation, 9 patients had died in the meantime. Among the 24 obese persons examined were 9 patients with NIDD. In other 19 patients a diabetic metabolic disturbance had become manifest in the meantime. 78 obese persons underwent a clinical examination, among them 9 NIDD. 60 patients had a normal and 18 a pathological carbohydrate tolerance. Of these 18 patients in 9 patients an up to now unknown diabetes mellitus could be proved. The obesity coincides with a relatively high rate of disturbed carbohydrate tolerance and a larger proportion of manifest diabetics compared with the normal population. In the own group of patients the morbidity of diabetes among the obese persons increases from 10.5 to 30% after on an average 7 years. Obese persons who had essentially exceeded their initial weight in the meantime and show further metabolic disturbances are particularly endangered.