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Clinical Consequences

CF- related Diabetes Mellitus¹⁸

Scarring of the pancreas in patients with CF causes a loss of insulin-producing beta cells. As blood concentrations of insulin slowly decline, blood sugar levels begin to rise. The spectrum of glucose tolerance in patients with CF ranges from normal to varying degrees of impaired glucose tolerance and overt diabetes.

• Overall, about 2% to 3% of people with CF develop insulin-dependent diabetes, known as CF-related diabetes (CFRD).
• Although CFRD can occur at any age, it is rare in young children; average age of onset is between 18 and 21 years.
• From adolescence into adulthood, there is a progressive increase in the incidence of CFRD; more than 15% of patients older than 35 years of age have CFRD and receive insulin therapy.

Source: Yankaskas JR, Marshall BC, Sufian B, Simon RH, Rodman D. Cystic fibrosis adult care: consensus conference report. Chest 2004 January;125(1 Suppl):1S-39S.¹⁸

Clinical Consequences of CFRD¹⁸

CFRD is associated with a variety of clinical consequences, including loss of calories, muscle wasting, fatigue, and an impaired ability to respond to infection.

• Kidney disease, eye disease, and damage to nerves occur with similar frequency in patients with CFRD compared with patients with other forms of diabetes.
• Complications such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke appear to be rare in patients with CFRD.
• CFRD is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Reference:
18.Yankaskas JR, Marshall BC, Sufian B, Simon RH, Rodman D. Cystic fibrosis adult care: consensus conference report. Chest 2004 January;125(1 Suppl):1S-39S.