Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes - symptoms and how to test
Diabetes mellitus is a common disease; however, cystic fibrosis can cause a unique type of disease called cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). This type of diabetes mellitus is different from both type 1, and type 2 diabetes yet has specific characteristics. The primary reason is insulin insufficiency due to islet cell death. Adults and adolescents with cystic fibrosis often develop diabetes because of their condition. Moreover, a third of CF patients aged 16 and up are receiving therapy for CFRD, according to 2018 data from the UK CF Registry. Among children aged 10 to 15, just 11% are receiving medication. There is evidence that early treatment of diabetes improves prognosis, and the fact that diabetes and poor glucose tolerance are both associated with worse health outcomes in people with CF emphasises the necessity of an early diagnosis.