A case of type 2 diabetes mellitus in an elderly patient with rapid attenuation of insulin secretion that resembled fulminant type 1 DM but with incomplete beta cell damage

Endocr J. 2006 Oct;53(5):633-7. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.k06-008. Epub 2006 Aug 8.

Abstract

We recently encountered a 66-year-old Japanese man who had suffered from acute hyperglycemia following flu-like symptoms during treatment of type 2 diabetes. Despite significantly increased plasma glucose levels, HbA1c was only slightly elevated. The possibility of autoimmune type 1 diabetes was excluded because of negative islet-related autoantibodies. Serum levels of pancreatic exocrine enzymes, amylase, lipase, and elastase-l were elevated. However, the insulin-secreting function of his islets was not severely damaged. This case is particularly notable for two reasons. First, it showed a fulminant type 1 diabetes-like clinical onset, but his beta cell function was fairly preserved. Second, it developed during the treatment of type 2 diabetes in an elderly patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / etiology
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / pathology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Insulin