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Classification and Laboratory Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus

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Endocrinology and Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of various etiologies, characterized by impairment of insulin secretion and action. This results in hyperglycemia and a number of clinical manifestations and serious complications. Identification and understanding of the specific etiology of an individual’s diabetes is important as it guides treatment decisions. Diabetes is often diagnosed in the absence of classic symptoms, and thus the diagnosis is heavily reliant on biochemical measures. Over the years, there have been numerous changes in the classification of diabetes as well as the criteria and methods for diagnosis. As new data have become available and assay methodologies have been updated, diagnostic thresholds have been altered. In recent years, hemoglobin A1c has also been adopted as an alternate diagnostic measure to plasma glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. There have also been advances in gene and autoantibody testing for the determination of diabetes type. This chapter reviews the different types of diabetes and the laboratory measures and associated criteria used for diagnosis.

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Abbreviations

2hPG:

2-hour plasma glucose

ADA:

American Diabetes Association

BMI:

Body mass index

DKA:

Diabetic ketoacidosis

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

FPG:

Fasting plasma glucose

GAD :

Glutamic acid decarboxylase

GDM:

Gestational diabetes mellitus

HbA1c:

Hemoglobin A1c

IADPSG:

International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups

ICA:

Islet cell antibody

IFG:

Impaired fasting glycemia

IGT:

Impaired glucose tolerance

LADA:

Latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood

MODY:

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young

OGTT:

Oral glucose tolerance test

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Correspondence to Matthew J. L. Hare .

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Hare, M.J.L., Topliss, D.J. (2022). Classification and Laboratory Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus. In: Bandeira, F., Gharib, H., Griz, L., Faria, M. (eds) Endocrinology and Diabetes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90684-9_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90684-9_28

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