ABSTRACT

Diabetes is an increasing worldwide health problem. It is estimated that the prevalence of diabetes doubles every 15 years and that by year 2010 there will be more than 220 million people affected with diabetes.1 Diabetes mellitus represents a heterogeneous group of disorders. Some distinct diabetic phenotypes can be identified in terms of specific etiology and/or pathogenesis, but in many cases overlapping phenotypes make etiological and pathogenic classification difficult.