The Registry for Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Italy (RIDI) project [Il progetto per il registro italiano del Diabete Mellito insulino-dipendente (RIDI)]

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) is a significant health care problem in terms of the number of persons affected. Susceptibility to develop IDDM is the result of an interplay between many different genetic and environmental factors. Various international diabetes epidemiology groups have promoted the standardization of data collection and registration to determine the incidence of diabetes. Comprehensive studies of the incidence of IDDM in Italy are few, and most studies have used local-based populations. Thus the data are difficult to interpret. In 1996, the Registry for Insulin-dependent Diabetes mellitus in Italy (RIDI) was promoted. This registry was prepared according to international guidelines and has a number of specific aims: 1) to coordinate local IDDM incidence registries; 2) to promote registration in uncovered areas; 3) to standardize data collection and registration. At the current time, various centers have adhered to the RIDI. It is hoped that the RIDI will yield important insight into the epidemiology of IDDM in Italy.