ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is a common, chronic condition associated with serious ocular complications. The incidence of diabetes mellitus continues to rise and it is predicted that by the year 2010, there will be an estimated 221 million diabetic persons in the world. Since 1997 there have been important changes in its diagnosis and classification. The revised diagnostic criteria include a fasting plasma glucose level of 7.0 mmol/1 or greater. The oral glucose tolerance test is no longer recommended for routine purposes.