Prevalence, management and control of diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors in primary health care in Portugal.

Abstract

The management of DM in a primary care setting in Portugal can and should be improved, since 9.8% of patients are not treated and 48.3% are not controlled. DM has a considerable clinical impact due to its strong association with CAD and stroke. The risk of stroke and CAD is much higher in diabetic women, due firstly to a stronger association of DM with other risk factors in women, and secondly to less aggressive treatment.