New diagnostic and classification criteria for diabetes mellitus

Abstract

In June of 1997, an international expert committee,
«Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and
Classification of Diabetes Mellitus», under the
sponsorship of the «American Diabetes Association»
(ADA), published a report with new recommendations for the classification and diagnosis of Diabetes
Mellitus. The proposed alterations to traditional
practices, highlight how much has been learned about Diabetes in the last 20 years or so. This subject
has been studied by the «National Diabetes Data
Group» (NDDG) in 1979, by the «World Health
Organization» (WHO) in 1980 and the
recomendations slightly modified in 1985. The most
significant developments in the field have been
regarding the aetiology and pathogenesis of diabetes,
as well as a greater knowledge on the predictive
value of different blood glucose values for the later
complications of diabetes. New recommendations
include the preferred use of the terms « type 1» and
«type 2» instead of Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus (IDDM) and No – Insulin Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) to designate the two
major types of diabetes, simplification of the
diagnostic criteria to two abnormal fasting plasma
determinations and a lower cut-off for fasting plasma
glucose (126mg/dlor 7 mmol/l) to confirm the diagnosis.