The number of diabetes patients treated in class A. hospitals has increased 70 fold in the period 1964-1985. Several surveys in the community have found a diabetes prevalence in the adult population (20 years and over) of 1.5% in urban areas and 1.2% in rural areas. In the 6-20 year age group the prevalence is around 0.25%. It is estimated that there are 1.5 to 2 million people suffering from diabetes in 1986, women and men in equal numbers. Based on data from 14 outpatient departments the most important chronic complications of DM are impotence (43.9%), neuropathy (34.5%), arthritis (25.5%), retinopathy (18.6%), coronary heart disease (18.2%), hypertension (17.9%), pulmonary tb (15.1%), cataract (13.8%), nephropathy (9.6%), gangrenelceUulitis (3.5%). It is estimated that 70% or DM patients need oral anti diabetics, 15% need insuline and 15% need dietary management. The costs of those treatments amount to Rp. 1.5 billion a day or Rp. 500 billion a year (if 50% of the patients are treated). In the USA there are 5.8 million diabetes patients spending $ 13.5 billion a year for treatment. Multidisciplinary Diabetes Centres have to be established in the mayor cities to implement curative as well as preventive programmes.
