Eighteen-year trends in the management of patients with diabetes in the Shiga Diabetes Clinical Survey: overall trends and differences by age group.

Aim: To examine the trends in the management of patients with diabetes over an 18-year period in Japan. Participants and methods: We recorded the height, body mass, laboratory data, diabetes treatment, and screening status of diabetic complications from the data collected during the Shiga Diabetes Clinical Survey, which has been performed every 6 years since 2000. We then evaluated the management of patients with diabetes in Shiga Prefecture. The study included 17,870, 18,398, 24,243, and 26,624 participants in each of the 4 years of measurements. Results: The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of the participants gradually increased. The percentage of patients with BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m Conclusions: Glycemic control has been maintained at an acceptable level since the previous survey. Although glycemic control has become less strict in elderly patients with diabetes, glycemic control is poorer in younger patients than in elderly patients. Obesity is an increasingly important problem, particularly in younger patients. The frequency of screening for diabetic complications and the control of blood pressure should be improved. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-022-00573-2.