Clinical characteristics of fulminant Type 1 diabetes mellitus / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the differences in clinical characteristics between Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and fulminant Type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM), and to reduce the missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and mistreatment of FT1DM by medical staff.@*METHODS@#A total of 101 hospitalized patients with T1DM (including 8 cases of FT1DM) were enrolled in this study from Changsha Central Hospital between June 2012 and December 2018. Clinical characteristics of the 8 FT1DM patients were collected and compared with all T1DM patients.@*RESULTS@#All FT1DM patients were adult with the average age of (30.25±5.28) years old, accompanied by severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurred within 1 week after onset. Moreover, pancreatic beta cells in these patients were destroyed and the islet-related antibodies were negative, while the serum pancreatic enzyme levels were increased. Compared with classic T1DM patients, the plasma glucose levels in FT1DM patients were much higher [(41.89±12.54) mmol/L vs (22.57±9.74) mmol/L], but glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting C peptide levels were significantly lower [(6.08±0.41)% vs (10.87±2.46%)%, @*CONCLUSIONS@#The onset time of FT1DM patients is very urgent via driving DKA. These patients have higher blood glucose concentration than classic T1DM patients, accompanied by electrolyte disturbances, impaired renal function, partially impaired liver function, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms and elevated trypsin. Most FTDM patients are adolescents and adults with no gender difference, especially pregnant women who are at high risk. Lifelong insulin dependence in FT1DM patients should be paid more attention in clinical treatment.

Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus in pregnancy

Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) has received clinical attention for its low incidence and poor prognosis. Currently, few cases of FT1DM are associated with pregnancy in clinical practice, but it poses a great threat to the life of mothers and infants. Here, we present two cases of FT1DM in pregnancy. In Case 1, the patient was a 26-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital with reduced fetal movement. She was diagnosed with FT1DM and delivered a dead female fetus. Lispro and lantus were administered to control blood glucose, and lipoic acid for antioxidant therapy. In Case 2, the patient was a 28-year-old woman who developed nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and polydipsia, which later proved to be FT1DM. An abortion was induced and blood glucose levels were controlled using an insulin pump. All physicians should be aware of this disease in order to provide prompt diagnosis and emergency treatment, thus improving maternal prognosis. We suggest that plasma glucose/hemoglobin A1C ratio be adopted as a new clinical parameter in predicting FT1DM.

Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes with Robust Recovery in Insulin Secretion in a Pregnant Woman as an Initial Manifestation of Third-Trimester Intrauterine Fetal Death

Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) is a clinical entity in which the process of beta-cell destruction and subsequent progression of hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis are extremely rapid. A 34-year-old woman without any known risk factor for diabetes mellitus experienced a sudden stillbirth at 30 weeks of gestation. She had normal oral glucose tolerance test during pregnancy. Her blood glucose level was 974 mg/dL. Her urine test for ketone bodies was positive. Her hemoglobin A1c level (6.8%) was near normal range at the first emergency room visit. These findings suggested a very recent onset of diabetes mellitus. Her serum C-peptide level was very low. Islet-related autoantibodies were undetectable. Her clinical course, biochemical, and immunological profiles were consistent with FT1DM. After fluid and insulin based management, beta-cell was rescued with insulin therapy during the evolution of FT1D. At 10 days after admission, maintenance dose of insulin was just 8 unit of insulin once daily. This is the first case of FT1DM with robust recovery in insulin secretion in a pregnant woman who had an initial manifestation of 3rd-trimester intrauterine fetal death in Korea.