Whether genetic susceptibility for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) at the 5' insulin gene polymorphic region (5' INS) interacts with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ-linked disease risk and whether it is associated with autoantibody formation is presently controversial. Diabetes registries allow more systematic reassessment of these questions. Two hundred and ninety-six Caucasian IDDM patients were recruited by the Belgian Diabetes Registry and sampled at disease onset, together with 195 ethnically matched control subjects. 5'INS genotypes were determined by Southern blotting, HLA-DQ by allele-specific oligotyping, and autoantibodies by validated immunoassays. The 5' INS 1/1 genotype was more prevalent in patients than in controls [relative risk (RR) = 2.3; P < 10(-4)]. Regardless of age at onset, the 5' INS 1/1 genotype occurred less frequently in patients with the high-risk genotype DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302/DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 than in patients without it (P < 0.04). The RR associated with this high-risk HLA-DQ genotype (24.9; P < 10(-6)) was not affected by the presence or absence of the 5' INS 1/1 genotype. Combined positivity for the 5' INS 1/1 genotype and for one of three other HLA-DQ genotypes associated with an intermediate risk for IDDM conferred an age-independent RR of 12.1 (P < 10(-4)). In the absence of the 5' INS 1/1 genotype, intermediate-risk HLA-DQ genotypes no longer conferred a significant risk (2.9; not significantly different from 1). In subjects carrying neutral, protective, or infrequent HLA-DQ genotypes, the overall RR for IDDM was significantly lower than 1 (0.2; P < 10(-6)) in the absence of the 5' INS 1/1 genotype but not in its presence (0.8; not significantly different from 1). The 5' INS 1/1 genotype was not preferentially associated with immune markers for IDDM. In conclusion, regardless of age at onset and the presence of autoantibodies, 5' INS polymorphisms contribute preferentially to IDDM susceptibility in subjects without the highest HLA-DQ-associated risk.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among patients with type 2 diabetes who are attending diabetes clinics in northern Tanzania.ResultsIn total 227 type 2 diabetic patients attending diabetes clinics were enrolled. Majority of patients 193 (85.0%) were overweight (44.9%) or obese (40.1%). Of them, 65 (33.7%) were overweight/obese after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was significantly higher in female participants than the males [92.2% vs. 69.2%; OR = 5.10; 95% CI 2.22–11.05]. Regarding the region of residence, Kilimanjaro (100.0%) and Arusha (89.8%) regions had significantly highest prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to Tanga region (69.2%) [χ2 = 32.455, P < 0.001].Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-017-2861-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and may progress to diabetic foot, which frequently leads to amputation and/or disability and death. Data is scanty on the burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Tanzania. The aim of this study was to assess the burden of peripheral neuropathy, its severity, and the associated factors. Methods. The study was a cross-sectional hospital-based study and was carried out from October 2017 to March 2018 among adolescent and adult patients attending Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) diabetes clinic. Results. A total of 327 diabetic patients, females n=215 (65.7%) and males n=121 (34.3%), were included in the study. The mean age was 57.2 yrs. A total of 238 (72%) had type 2 and 89 (27.2%) had type1 DM. The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 72.2% of whom 55% were severe, 19% were moderate, and 26% were mild. The severity of neuropathy increased with the increase in age >40 years (p < 0.001) and increase in body mass index (p<0.001) and duration of diabetes; duration >7 years (p <0.006). The main associated factors were age >40 years, OR 2.8 (1.0-7.7), >60 years, OR 6.4 (2.3-18.2), obesity, OR 6.7 (0.9-27.7), and hypertension, OR 4.3 (2.2-8.2). Conclusion. More than half of the patients included in this study were found to have neuropathy, nearly half of whom presented with the severe form. The main risk factors were increasing age, increasing duration of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is underdiagnosed in northern Tanzania where screening for neuropathy is not routinely done.

Diabetes care in a developing country needs to address the specific background of the patient population, their needs, the medical problems and the social constraints. Active participation of the patients can help to overcome some of the difficulties.