characteristics of IDDM
Last reviewed 01/2018
The characteristics of IDDM include:
- onset usually before 20 years
- equal incidence in males and females
- association with HLA B8, B15, DR3, DR4
- 50% concordance in identical twins
- islet cell antibodies in 90% of cases
- there is an absolute deficiency in insulin secretion
- glucagon secretion is increased
- obesity is rare
- patients are prone to ketoacidosis
- occasionally occurs in association with other autoimmune disease e.g. Schmidt's syndrome