Song WR, Xu XH, Li J, Yu J, Li YX. Secondary diabetes due to different etiologies: Four case reports. World J Clin Cases 2024; 12(16): 2813-2821 [PMID: 38899290 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i16.2813]
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Cases. Jun 6, 2024; 12(16): 2813-2821 Published online Jun 6, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i16.2813
Secondary diabetes due to different etiologies: Four case reports
Wen-Rong Song, Xiao-Hong Xu, Jia Li, Jia Yu, Yan-Xiong Li
Wen-Rong Song, Jia Li, Department of Endocrinology, Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan 431600, Hubei Province, China
Xiao-Hong Xu, Department of Pneumology, Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan 431600, Hubei Province, China
Jia Yu, Yan-Xiong Li, Department of Imaging, Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan 431600, Hubei Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Xiao-Hong Xu and Jia Li.
Author contributions: Song WR and Li J contributed to manuscript writing and editing, and data collection; Yu J and Li YX contributed to image diagnosis and data analysis; Xu XH and Li J contributed to conceptualization and supervision; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patients and their parents for the publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare no conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Received: November 4, 2023 Revised: February 9, 2024 Accepted: April 8, 2024 Published online: June 6, 2024 Processing time: 207 Days and 11.2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
As research on diabetes continues to advance, more complex classifications of this disease have emerged, revealing the existence of special types of diabetes, and many of these patients are prone to misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, leading to treatment delays and increased health care costs. The purpose of this study was to identify four causes of secondary diabetes.
CASE SUMMARY
Secondary diabetes can be caused by various factors, some of which are often overlooked. These factors include genetic defects, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes induced by tumours. This paper describes four types of secondary diabetes caused by Williams–Beuren syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, pituitary adenoma, and IgG4-related diseases. These cases deviate significantly from the typical progression of the disease due to their low incidence and rarity, often leading to their neglect in clinical practice. In comparison to regular diabetes patients, the four individuals described here exhibited distinct characteristics. Standard hypoglycaemic treatments failed to effectively control the disease. Subsequently, a series of examinations and follow-up history confirmed the diagnosis and underlying cause of diabetes. Upon addressing the primary condition, such as excising a pituitary adenoma, providing glucocorticoid supplementation, and implementing symptomatic treatments, all patients experienced a considerable decrease in blood glucose levels, which were subsequently maintained within a stable range. Furthermore, other accompanying symptoms improved.
CONCLUSION
Rare diseases causing secondary diabetes are often not considered in the diagnosis of diabetes. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct genetic tests, antibody detection and other appropriate diagnostic measures when necessary to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention through proactive and efficient management of the underlying condition, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Core Tip: The etiology of secondary diabetes is complex, and it is often misdiagnosed as common type 2 diabetes in clinic, especially diabetes caused by some rare diseases, including Williams-Beuren syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Pituitary adenoma, and IgG4-related diseases. It is difficult to confirm before some special tests, such as genetic testing, these posing a challenge for physicians. The aim of this report is to summarize the diagnosis and treatment of these four secondary diabetes patients, and to provide perspective and reference to other relevant cases.
