Abstract
Objective: To analyze the association between the time of disease and the onset of diabetes mellitus
complications and to describe the characteristics of the diabetics’ population of a mid-sized city located in the
Midwest of the state of Minas Gerais.
Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with 1320 patients with diabetes mellitus. The data were obtained
from the registration system of Hypertensive and diabetic patients and the following variables were evaluated:
sociodemographic characteristics, duration of disease and diabetes complications.
Results: Among patients who have the diagnosis of the disease for more than 10 years, the percentage of
those that present complications 156 (32.2%) is higher than among those with the diagnosis of the disease
for less than 10 years 45 (12.1%).
Conclusion: The results showed that the onset of diabetes-related complications might be associated with
the duration of disease.