Iron overload and diabetes mellitus

Iron overload might be ascribable to hereditary or secondary causes. Hereditary hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder among Caucasians. In Portugal, likewise in Europe, it is more frequent in the North. Diabetes due to hereditary hemochromatosis seems to result from a decrease in insulin secretion and increase in insulin resistance. No consensus was reached on what concerns to the main mechanism. High iron intake, increased transferrin saturation and C282Y homozygosity are associated with increased risk for type 1 diabetes mellitus. It is advisable to assess iron stores in patients with diabetes mellitus, as long as an early diagnosis of iron overload may prevent subsequent complications. (C) 2013 Sociedade Portuguesa de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo. Published by Elsevier Espafia, S.L. All rights reserved.