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Early Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2008;51(9):813-817
Publication date (electronic) : 2008 September 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.9.813
Hyun Shik Son, MD
Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Korea. sonhys@gmail.com

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed and characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. The effects of diabetes mellitus include long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Often diabetic symptoms are not severe or may even be absent. Hyperglycemia sufficient to cause pathologic functional changes may quite often be present for a long time before the diagnosis is made. Because diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive disease, early diagnosis of diabetes is important to prevent chronic diabetic complications, especially in high risk subjects. In most countries, screening methods for the early diagnosis of diabetes have not yet been agreed. The fasting plasma glucose is simple, quick, acceptable to patients, and of low cost, but can miss those with isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia. The oGTT is difficult to perform, impractical for large numbers, and expensive, but is the only way to identify post-load hyperglycemia. Attention is focused on those at high risk of developing diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Early diagnosis

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Article information Continued

Copyright © 2008 Korean Medical Association

Table 1

Criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

Table 1

Note: In the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia and acute metabolic decompensation, these criteria should be confirmed by repeat testing on a different day.

Source: Adopted from American Diabetes Association, 2007.

Table 2

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Table 2

Note: BMI, body mass index; IFG, impaired fasting glucose; IGT, impaired glucose tolerance; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; HDL, high-density lipoprotein

Source: Adopted from American Diabetes Association, 2007.