Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.06.1982, Page 33

This work implies that a common food adaitive
contributes to the production of Type 1 diabetes in
the offspring of the consumer.
y
Survey methods used:
All diabetics are being treated by the Icelandic National
Health Service.
Towns - Reykjavík and suburbs
More than half of the total population of Iceland (226.339)
lives in Reykjavík. One diabetic clinic only. Information
derived from:
1) Hospital records over 10-20 years. For more than 10 years
all new Type 1 diabetics \mder age 30 have been admitted
to hospital.
2) Prescriptions for insulin issued July-December 1979 were
inspected. These revealed a few older Type 1 diabetics
not initially treated in hospital and confirmed the count
of the younger Type 1 patients. Insulin is obtainable
only on prescription and free for diabetics.
- Akvureyri
Information from hospital records and from local branch of
the Diabetic Association, the chairman of which acts as co-
ordinating Public Relation Officer for the satellite clinic
rvm from Reykjavík in Akureyri (280 miles away).
Country
Clinic attenders asked to report other diabetics known to
to them. Enquiry and re-enquiry from all general practition-
ers and from doctors working in 2 rural hospitals manned by
consultant physicians. Enquiry from local pharmacists which
proved very effective.
Questionnaire was filled in by all the Type 1 diabetics
detected. Queries settled by discussion with T.H. at the
Diabetic Clinic. Information on month of diagnosis checked
against hospital records>90% of cases and good concordance
found.