Association between obesity and hypertension in south Indian patients

Two hundred and forty four newly diagnosed hypertensives (cases) of age 40 years and above, attending the hypertensive clinic of the Government General Hospital during one year and three hundred and twelve normotensives (controls) belonging to the same age group and attending the outpatient department during the same period for other minor ailments formed the subjects for this case control study. There were 18 (7.4%) obese subjects among hypertensives and 6 (1.9%) among controls. In spite of these low proportions, there was a strong association between obesity and hypertension with an overall odds ratio of 4 and there appeared to be a significant increasing trend in the proportion of cases of hypertension (37%, 63%, 75%) observed according to the different grades (underweight or normal, overweight, obese) of nutrition.

Effect of bed time intermediate acting insulin in NIDDM subjects refractory to a combination of sulphonylureas and biguanides

The effect of a single dose of intermediate acting (Lente) insulin given subcutaneously at 9.00 P.M. in 22 NIDDM subjects refractory to a combination of Sulphonylureas and Biguanides was analysed. Euglycemia was achieved and maintained during the study period of three months with a mean insulin requirement of 14.22 +/- 5.98 units/day. Plasma FFA, Total cholesterol, triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol also showed significant reduction. The level of FFA modulates hepatic glucose production, which in turn correlates positively with the fasting blood glucose. The therapeutic modality of bed time Lente Insulin based on physiological principles is an effective way of achieving glycemic control in NIDDM subjects who have become non-responsive to oral hypoglycemic agents.