Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study population

Gender (M/F)

76/149

65/131

0.89^d

Age (years)

60.6 ± 11.5

57 ± 12.8

0.10^c

BMI (kg/m2)

23.1 ± 0.3

23.4 ± 0.2

0.00

Duration of Diabetes (years)

17.07 ± 6.69

10.4 ± 7.7

<0.05 ^c

Hb A_1c (%)

7.3 ± 1.0

7.5 ± 1.1

0.949^c

Systolic pressure (mm Hg) *

140 (106–190)

150 (110–210)

0.002^e

Diastolic pressure (mm Hg) *

84 (80–104)

90 (70–110)

0.025^e

Serum creatinine (μmol/l) *

84 (35–108)

177 (124–1112)

<<0.05 ^e

UAER (mg/liter)*

10 (1–16)

864 (320–1584)

<<0.05 ^e

GFR (mls/min/1.73 m ² )

81.44 ± 21.85

27.83 ± 24

<<0.05 ^c

Serum triglyceride (mmol/l)

1.7 ± 0.67

1.8 ± 1.4

0.307^c

Serum cholesterol (mmol/l)

4.8 ± 0.97

4.9 ± 0.92

0.852^c

Retinopathy (%) Non-proliferative (%) Proliferative (%)

24 15 09

88 35 53

<<0.05 ^d

Cardiovascular events (%)

3

8.3