Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice
11:10

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice

Published on: November 16, 2011

Hyperglycaemia and insulinopenia in a neonate with cystic fibrosis

Tania Siahanidou1, Helen Mandyla, Stavros Doudounakis

  • 1Neonatal Unit, First Department of Paediatrics, Athens University, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. siahanidou@hotmail.com

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|January 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Abnormal glucose tolerance, a complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), can occur in newborns. This case highlights that CF-related diabetes mellitus (CFRD) and insulinopenia may be present from birth, suggesting earlier onset than previously recognized.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting multiple organs.
  • Abnormal glucose tolerance, leading to CF-related diabetes mellitus (CFRD), is a known complication, typically diagnosed later in childhood.
  • The prevalence of CFRD in children under 10 years is less than 2%, with the youngest reported case at 6 months.

Observation:

  • A neonate diagnosed with CF presented with severe hyperglycemia, indicative of a diabetic range.
  • This neonate exhibited marked insulinopenia, a deficiency in insulin production.
  • The observed insulinopenia and impaired glucose tolerance persisted at 6 and 15 months of age.

Findings:

  • Insulinopenia is identified as the primary cause of abnormal glucose tolerance and CFRD.
  • This case demonstrates that CFRD and associated insulinopenia can manifest in the neonatal period, much earlier than previously documented.
  • The findings suggest that glucose intolerance may be a much earlier complication of CF than typically diagnosed.

Implications:

  • This case challenges the established timeline for CFRD development in cystic fibrosis patients.
  • It suggests that the incidence of glucose intolerance and diabetes in neonates and infants with CF may be significantly underestimated.
  • Further research and careful monitoring of glucose metabolism in infants with CF are warranted to understand the true prevalence and early management strategies for CFRD.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion01:27

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations01:19

Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations

Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...