Idiopathic Diabetes
Some forms of type 1 diabetes have no
known etiologies. These patients have permanent
insulinopenia and are prone to
ketoacidosis, but have no evidence of autoimmunity.
Although only a minority of
patients with type 1 diabetes fall into this
category, of those who do, most are of
African or Asian ancestry. Individuals
with this form of diabetes suffer from episodic
ketoacidosis and exhibit varying
degrees of insulin deficiency between episodes.
This form of diabetes is strongly
inherited, lacks immunological evidence
for b-cell autoimmunity, and is not HLA
associated. An absolute requirement for
insulin replacement therapy in affected
patients may come and go.