primary diabetes mellitus
Last reviewed 01/2021
The common primary diabetes mellitus syndromes are:
- insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (Type I Diabetes)
- non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (Type II Diabetes)
The distinction between IDDM and NIDDM is clinical:
- if insulin therapy is required to prevent ketoacidosis the the patient has IDDM
- if insulin therapy is not required to prevent ketoacidosis then the patient has NIDDM
- if the patient has NIDDM but insulin is required to maintain acceptable glycaemic control then the patient has insulin-treated NIDDM
Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare primary diabetes mellitus syndrome.