Patient case studies

Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999 Jun:23 Suppl 7:S18-22; discussion S23-4. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0800957.

Abstract

Three contrasting cases of obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are presented, which illustrate the management difficulties faced by clinicians. The first raises the issue of when to commence an oral hypoglycaemic agent in a newly diagnosed but asymptomatic obese patient; the second case addresses the problem of when to commence insulin in the face of continuing weight gain and poor glycaemic control; the final case is an example of the vicious metabolic spiral which so many patients enter, with increasing body weight, poor diabetic control and associated co-morbidities. The discussion that follows each case presentation recognises the considerable cardiovascular risk faced by such patients and provides guidance about possible management pathways including adjunctive anti-obesity pharmacotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Clinical Conference

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity*