Factors affecting diabetes mellitus onset in cystic fibrosis: evidence from a 10-year follow-up study

This study reports the results of genotype characterization and of a 10-y prospective evaluation of clinical status, glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in 28 originally normoglycaemic patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of the study was to assess whether any genetic, clinical or metabolic parameters could identify in advance those patients at risk of developing diabetes mellitus over time. During the follow-up 42.8% of patients became diabetic. Neither gender, age nor clinical parameters were significantly different at entry in the patients who eventually developed diabetes compared with those who did not. Insulin secretion during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) deteriorated over time in both groups, whereas a progressive deterioration of glucose tolerance was only evident in the patients who developed diabetes and increased baseline glucose areas were the only predictive parameter of diabetes onset. Genotype analysis revealed significant differences between patients with and without diabetes: ΔF508 homozygosis was more frequent in the first group and N1303K mutation in the second group. In conclusion, in CF: (i) increased glucose areas during OGTT and deterioration of glucose tolerance over time can predict the evolution towards diabetes; and (ii) ΔF508 homozygosis may predispose to the risk of diabetes, whilst N1303K mutation seems to play a protective role.