II. Epidemiology
- Typical onset before age 30 years
- Non-obese patients
- However, teens with Type I Diabetes are more Overweight than teens without diabetes
- Prevalence (2015, U.S.): 1.25 Million (4% of the 30.3 Million Diabetes Mellitus cases in U.S.)
- Ethnic disparity in management (based on T1D registry data)
- White patients have a higher utilization of Insulin Pumps than black or hispanic patients
- Black patients have higher Hemoglobin A1C levels than white or hispanic patients
III. Pathophysiology
- Type 1A
- Environmental and genetic factors
- HLA-DR4 association
- Cell mediated pancreatic beta cell destruction
- Type 1B (uncommon)
- Primary Autoimmune Condition
- Associated with other Autoimmune Conditions
- HLA-DR3 association
- Incidence highest in 30-50 year olds
- Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus
- Congenital malfunction or malformation of pancreatic beta cells leading to severe Hyperglycemia in neonates
- Rare, inherited condition (case reports of families with Autosomal Dominant inheritance)
- Beltrand (2020) Front Pediatr 8:540718 [PubMed]
- Secondary Diabetes Mellitus
- Environmental Factors
- Medications
- Viruses
- Mumps
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Coxsackie
- Enterovirus IgM linked to IDDM in adolescents
- Studied 128 children with new onset IDDM
- Non-specific to subtype (coxsackie, echovirus)
- Helfand (1995) J Infect Dis 172:1206-11 [PubMed]
- Enterovirus IgM linked to IDDM in adolescents
- Congenital Rubella
- Late Type I Diabetes Mellitus develops in 40%
IV. Findings: Symptoms and Signs
V. Findings: Common Presentations
-
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Major presenting syndrome in 25% of cases
- More common in under 3 years and adolescence
- Incidental glucosuria or Hyperglycemia
- Acute Abdominal Pain
- Influenza-like illness
VI. Diagnosis
- See Diabetes Mellitus
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
- Fasting Blood Glucose or Random Blood Glucose
- Two hour post-prandial Glucose
- Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test
VII. Labs
- Initial studies
- Urinalysis
- Blood Glucose
- Electrolytes
- Glycosylated Hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A1C)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Consider Celiac Sprue testing (if suggestive symptoms)
- Diagnostics in Atypical Presentation
- Approach
- Antibodies are often ordered as panel (Anti-GAD65 Antibody, ICA, IA-2a/b)
- Anti-Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibody (Anti-GAD65 Antibody) - most useful of markers
- Test Sensitivity in Type I Diabetes: 60% in adults (60-73% in children)
- Not specific, also found in 7-34% in adults and children with Type II Diabetes
- Absence of Antibody makes requring inulin withn 6 years in adults unlikely (NPV 94%)
- Anti-islet cell surface Antibody (ICA)
- Test Sensitivity in Type I Diabetes: 75-85% in adults and children
- Not specific for Type I Diabetes (seen in up to 21% of Type II Diabetes adults)
- Anti-insulin Antibody (IA-2a and IA-2b)
- Test Sensitivity in Type I Diabetes: 40% in adults and 40-86% in children
- More specific for Type I Diabetes (only present in ~2% of Type II Diabetes)
- C-peptide low or absent (<1.51 ng)
- Consider after Sustacal challenge
- Not specific for Type I Diabetes Mellitus (also seen in Type II)
- C-Peptide is best interpreted during significant Hyperglycemia (Serum Glucose >300 or 400 mg/dl)
- Low C-Peptide suggests Insulin deficiency
- High C-Peptide suggests Insulin Resistance
- Normal C-Peptide levels in non-diabetics
- Fasting: 0.9 to 1.8 ng/ml (0.3 to 0.6 mmol/L)
- Postprandial: 3 to 9 ng/ml (1 to 3 mmol/L)
- Zinc transporter 8 autoantibody
- May confirm autoimmune-mediated Diabetes Mellitus when other autoantibody tests are negative
- Approach
- References
VIII. Management: Initial
- Treat acute problems (includes non-diabetic issues)
- Set initial goals and targets
- Initiate Insulin therapy
- See Insulin Dosing
- If atypical presentation, then base on Ketones (unclear if Type I or Type II)
- Education
- See Diabetes Mellitus Education
- Teach survival skills
- Establish plan for ongoing care and education
- Review importance of intensive therapy (compared with conventional care)
- Precautions: Honeymoon Period
- Honeymoon period (partial remission of diabetes) occurs in 50% of children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Associated with Hypoglycemia risk
- Timing
- Onset 2-3 months after Insulin initiated
- Last for weeks to months, and in some cases years (mean 9 months)
- Requires adjustment in Insulin Dosing and monitoring
- Decrease Insulin (often to very low levels or stopping completely)
- Close Glucose monitoring
- Respond to Hypoglycemia by reducing or eliminating Insulin
IX. Management: Follow-up
- Initial
- Daily phone contact for first 3 days
- Office visit within 2 weeks
- Emergency 24 hour phone number given
- Adjustment phase
- Consider weekly phone call
- Monthly office visit
- Maintenance Phase
- Office visit every 3-4 months
- Review Blood Sugar Log
- Hypoglycemic Episodes
- Hyperglycemia
- Ketones
- Review food plan
- Review Exercise program
- Review Medications
- Exam
- Height, Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Growth rate (pediatric Diabetes Mellitus)
- Blood Pressure
- Labs
- Check Glucose Meter against Serum Glucose
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Education
- Manage Comorbidities
- Yearly Exam
- Health Maintenance Exam
- Fasting lipid profile within 6 months of diagnosis (and then every 5 years if otherwise low risk)
- Triglycerides commonly elevated
- Neurologic Exam
- Dental exam
- Skin exam
- Evaluate injection sites (or pump insertion sites) for lipodistrophy
- Foot exam
- See Diabetic Neuropathy Testing (5.07-Gauge Monofilament)
- See Diabetic Foot Care
- Inspect feet for lesions
- Obtain dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses
- Perform monofilament testing
- Optometry or Ophthalmology Exam
- See Diabetic Retinopathy
- Age over 12 years or Diabetes Mellitus for 5 years
- Urine Microalbumin yearly
- See Diabetic Nephropathy
- Age over 12 years or Diabetes Mellitus for 5 years
-
Vaccination
- Pneumovax-23
- Influenza Vaccine yearly
- Hepatitis B Vaccine (if age <60 years old)
X. Management: New Strategies
- Monitoring
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring
- Reduces average Hemoglobin A1C 7.6% to 7.1% over 6 months
- Tamborlane (2008) N Engl J Med 359(14): 1464-76 [PubMed]
- Transcutaneous Serum Glucose monitoring (watch)
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring
- Treatment options
- Islet Cell Transplants (high efficacy in trials)
- Insulin Pump
- Other medications
- Pramlintide (Symlin) has been FDA approved in Type I Diabetes
- Metformin is not effective in Type I Diabetes
XI. Resources
- T1D Registry
- American Diabetes Association Type I (patients)