Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic, serious disease in children and adolescents. Its diagnosis is straightforward and rarely subtle. The major challenges of this disease for the child, family, and health-care team involve long-term management of medical and metabolic factors as well as psychological and behavioral concerns. While developments in the past 10 to 15 years have made metabolic control technically possible, psychological stresses and behavioral problems often interfere with metabolic goals. There are few, if any, other diseases that require such intensive and extensive self-care skills.
Definitions
Diabetes generally is classified in two types. Type I, or IDDM, is seen mostly in younger people (children and adolescents). It previously was called juvenile onset or ketosisprone. Insulin deficiency characterizes IDDM, and patients need exogenous insulin for survival. Type II, or non-IDDM (NIDDM), previously called adult or maturity onset, is the type seen most commonly in older people and in obesity and is not discussed in this review.
To make a diagnosis of diabetes, a child must have either classic symptoms with a random plasma glucose above 200 mg/dL or specific plasma glucose levels before and after a standard glucose load if asymptomatic. The diagnosis of IDDM usually is clear-cut.
