Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Alternate Names : Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, IDDM, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

How is the disease diagnosed?

A medical history and physical exam often lead a doctor to suspect type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is diagnosed on the basis of a high glucose level in the blood.

A blood sample can be measured at a random time or after an 8-hour fast. After an 8-hour fast, the normal blood glucose level is less than 110 mg/dL, or milligrams per deciliter. A fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate days usually indicates diabetes.

When blood is taken randomly or without fasting first, a blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher on two separate days usually indicates diabetes.

Additional blood tests can help distinguish between type 1 diabetes and other types of diabetes. The level of ketones, for example, can be measured. Ketones are usually elevated only in type 1 diabetes.