CHALLENGES OF THE MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY IN DIABETES MELLITUS SECONDARY TO HEMOCHROMATOSIS

We aimed to review the currently available scientific data and clinical guidelines regarding diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus) as a clinical feature of (hereditary) hemochromatosis and its specific management challenges. Hemochromatosis is an iron-loading genetic disorder caused by the failure to prevent unneeded dietary iron from entering the circulatory pool and it's characterized by progressive parenchymal iron overload and potential damage to liver, pancreas, joints, heart, endocrine glands. Diabetes mellitus is a common clinical feature of hemochromatosis with a prevalence ranging between 40% and 60% and it associates insulin secretion deficit (as a primary defect) and insulin resistance. Phlebotomy can ameliorate the defects of insulin secretion if initiated early. Patients with diabetes mellitus secondary to hemochromatosis have an additional risk of malnutrition, due to the association of other organs damage and the consecutive specific challenges of the dietary management. Medical nutrition therapy could play an important role in preventing and/or delaying the complications of hemochromatosis.