Recent Advances in Neonatal Diabetes

Abstract

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined by the onset of persistent hyperglycemia within the first six months of life but may present up to 12 months of life. A gene mutation affecting pancreatic beta cells or synthesis/secretion of insulin is present in more than 80% of the children with neonatal diabetes. Neonatal DM can be transient, permanent, or be a component of a syndrome. Genetic testing is important as a specific genetic mutation can significantly alter the treatment and outcome. Patients with mutations of either KCNJ11 or ABCC8 that encode subunits of the K_ATP channel gene mutation can be managed with sulfonylurea oral therapy while patients with other genetic mutations require insulin treatment.

Keywords: ABCC8; KCNJ11; neonatal diabetes; sulfonylurea.

Figure 1

Schematic of regulation of insulin secretion. Notes: Republished with permission of EUREKA SCIENCE (FZC), from Regulation of insulin synthesis and secretion and pancreatic Beta-cell dysfunction in diabetes, Fu Z, Gilbert ER, and Liu D, Volume 9(1), 2013; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.