Ketosis-Onset Diabetes and Ketosis-Prone Diabetes: Same or Not?

Objective. To compare clinical characteristics, immunological markers, and beta-cell functions of 4 subgroups ("A beta" classification system) of ketosis-onset diabetes and ketosis prone diabetes patients without known diabetes, presenting with ketosis or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and admitted to our department from March 2011 to December 2011 in China, with 50 healthy persons as control group. Results. beta-cell functional reserve was preserved in 63.52% of patients. In almost each subgroup (except A-beta- subgroup of ketosis prone group), male patients were more than female ones. The age of the majority of patients in ketosis prone group was older than that of ketosis-onset group, except A-beta- subgroup of ketosis prone group. The durations from the patient first time ketosis or DKA onset to admitting to the hospital have significant difference, which were much longer for the ketosis prone group except the A+beta+ subgroup. BMI has no significant difference among subgroups. FPG of ketosis prone group was lower than that of A-beta+ subgroup and A+beta+ subgroup in ketosis-onset group. A-beta- subgroup and A+beta+ subgroup of ketosis prone group have lower HbA1c than ketosis-onset group. Conclusions. Ketosis-onset diabetes and ketosis prone diabetes do not absolutely have the same clinical characteristics. Each subgroup shows different specialty.