Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Introduction
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a medical term that describes diabetes mellitus that requires insulin therapy to avoid ketoacidosis. IDDM is often considered a synonym for juvenile diabetes mellitus and type 1 diabetes mellitus, though the three terms are not entirely congruent:
- Juvenile diabetes is considered an unsatisfactory and somewhat obsolete term because type 1 diabetes can develop in adults, and type 2 can occur in children.
- IDDM includes type 1 diabetes, but as type 2 diabetes progresses, in some people it may reach a degree of insulin deficiency that requires insulin treatment.
See diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.