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January 21, 2003

Diagnosis and Symptoms

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Question from Santa Rosa, California, USA:

How does one determine the difference between malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus (MRDM) and type 1 diabetes?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

Nutrition-related diabetes is for the most part confined to areas of the world where there is widespread and extreme malnutrition, although it could obviously occur too in developed countries in association with a severe eating disorder. At the time of diagnosis, nearly all persons with type 1 diabetes have a positive antibody test. However, if the subject were an African American, the distinction might be difficult because even if sustained proper nutrition alleviated the diabetes, this would still be hard to distinguish from the common recovery in type 1B diabetes.

DOB