ABRUPT-ONSET DIABETES-MELLITUS IN THE ELDERLY

We present three elderly Japanese patients with abrupt onset of diabet es mellitus: a 61-year-old male with a complete defect of insulin secr etion without insulin resistance, a 60-year-old male with an incomplet e defect of insulin secretion associated with insulin resistance, and a 69-year-old female with a complete defect of insulin secretion and i nsulin resistance. The findings in these cases indicate the heterogene ity in insulin secretion and sensitivity of abrupt onset diabetes mell itus in the elderly. The changes in insulin secretion and sensitivity over time due to glucose toxicity may at least partially explain the h eterogeneity.