Both IDDM and NIDDM are multifaceted diseases whose pathophysiologies share two important characteristics. When not clinically treated, both involve chronic hyperglycemia. Further, all individuals with diabetes are at risk for developing the complications of the disease. These complications include neuropathies, retinopathies, and nephropathies. Other complications less often cited include sympathetic nervous sensitivity (at least in NIDDM), as well as neurobehavioral sequelae, especially in very young children whose IDDM treatment/response leads to two or more profound hypoglycemic episodes before age five. The future is bright--improved and appropriate insulinization, effective second-generation oral hypoglycemic agents, pancreatic transplantation, and immunosuppression offer hope in the management of diabetes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.