Not All Diabetes in Infants is Type 1: A Case Report

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), defined as persistent hyperglycemia occurring in the first months of life, is a rare cause of hyperglycemia and is often misdiagnosed as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Numerous reports have shown that the successful transition from insulin to sulfonylurea agents can be achieved in up to 90% of patients with NDM. However, most of the reports pertain to infants; the literature is limited regarding treatment of adults with NDM. We present our experience with a patient with permanent NDM, initially misdiagnosed as T1DM, who subsequently was successfully transitioned to oral sulfonylurea therapy after 37 years of insulin dependence.