INTRODUCTION
Type 1 diabetes is a disease characterized by the destruction of
pancreatic b-cells, which leads to absolute deficiency of insulin
secretion. Depending on the manner of onset and progression,
it is classified as fulminant, acute-onset or slowly progressive
type 1 diabetes in Japan1. The diagnostic criteria for type 1 diabetes
have not been established in Western countries, because
the clinical characteristics of Caucasian patients with type 1 diabetes
are relatively homogenous, and it is conjectured that type
1 diabetes has been recognized to be easily distinguished from
other types of diabetes by their age of onset, the presence or
absence of obesity, and mode of disease onset. However, with
rising obesity rates in children, it has been reported that it is
increasingly difficult to differentiate between type 1 diabetes
and type 2 diabetes2. Therefore, it is speculated that, in the near
future, investigation towards a decision on the diagnostic criteria
or guidelines to discriminate between both types of diabetes
will be made in Western countries.