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Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disorder resulting from an inadequate production or impaired use of insulin. Uncontrolled diabetes leads to chronic hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the blood). DM is a chronic disease for which there is no single cause. DM is often a secondary diagnosis to other disorders. Each year approximately 65,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association states that 16 million people have diabetes in the United States. "Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death by disease in the United States; this year, more than 178,000 will die from the disease and its related complications." (3-5,12)
During the 57th Annual Scientific Sessions conducted by the American Diabetes Association (June 1997) experts recommended elimination of the categories "Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" and "Non-insulin diabetes mellitus" (See Table 2). The committee suggests the use of the term 'type' as more appropriate, and encourages the use of Arabic numerals to designate the 'type' of diabetes. The change was prompted by a need to remove the name based on treatment and not on the actual disease. (5,18) As shown in Table 2, the etiologic classifications of DM have also changed.
Table 2: Etiologic Classification of Diabetes Mellitus(5)
PREFERRED NAME
 |
PREVIOUS DESIGNATION
|
Type 1
Diabetes Mellitus |
Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Juvenile diabetes mellitus |
Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus |
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Adult onset diabetes mellitus |
| Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| Other Specific Types |
(Not previously designated) |
| Pre-Diabetes |
Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) |
| Pre-Diabetes |
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) |
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of Diabetes Mellitus
