Features and prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a rural population aged 80 and over of inner Sicily (Troina).

Forty cases of diabetes mellitus (15 males and 25 females) were investigated in an ultra-octogenarian rural population of inner Sicily (Troina). Age, gender, education, voluptuary habits, psychophysical conditions, occurrence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), body mass index (BMI), specific and non-specific therapy were evaluated. Psychophysical conditions of diabetics as well as their actual abilities of taking drugs have also been recorded and discussed.