OBJECTIVES: to analyze the complications associated with type 2 diabetes in patients seen by Family Health Units. METHODS: a study was conducted of the Family Health Units of the six health districts of the city of Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, with a sample of 1374 records of diabetic patients registered on the Family Health Program. The variables used were: the occurrence of macro-and microvascular complications, age, sex, years of schooling, alcohol consumption, smoking, first and last glucose recorded. RESULTS: there was a higher rate of complications in women (71.5%) compared to men (29.5%). Of the total, 58.9% had at least one complication. The macrovascular complications corresponded to 95.6%. The peripheral vascular disease was responsible for 92.1%, when considered as a single complication. There was an association between the age of 66 years or more and macrovascular complications, with a prevalence of 37.8%. Microvascular complications were half as common among women as among men (3.6 x 6.4) and this represents a statistically significant difference (p=0.04). Smoking was shown to be associated with microvascular complications (p<0001). CONCLUSIONS: the results point to a need to strengthen, alongside basic health services, measures recommended by the Health department, aiming to reduce risk factors and the impact of complications.
Diabetes mellitus; Chronic complications; Family health units
