Proposal for a new classification of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic syndrome characterised by varying degrees of insulin deficiency, either absolute or relative, and impaired insulin action on protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Although hyperglycemia is always present during the course of the disease, at least in the early phase it must not be a unique criterion for diagnosis. A normoglycemic patient with hyperinsulinemia associated with obesity or dyslipidemia could be considered as a case of "normoglycemic diabetes" which will develop in time toward hyperglycemia.