[Renal dlabetes and chemical diabetes. Course in young subjects with normal weight (author's transl)].

Ninety-two young patients of normal weight with glycosuria were classified according to the results of glucose tolerance tests into renal diabetes (32 cases) and chemical diabetes (53 cases). After 5 years or more 17 of the patients with renal diabetes were located. In only one case had the development of chemical diabetes led to correction of the initial diagnosis to that of potential diabetes with a reduced renal glucose threshold. Family histories of diabetes were identical in both groups (renal and chemical diabetes) (35 %) and did not provide any means for distinguishing renal diabetes from diabetes mellitus with a reduced renal glucose threshold. Amongst the 34 subjects with chemical diabetes who were located, 3 had become frank diabetics (9 %). Chemical diabetes persisted in 14 patients (42 %) and 17 (50 %) could be considered to be normal. In addition to the three subjects with frank diabetes, only 9 patients (5 with chemical diabetes and 4 normal) continued to take oral therapy at the time of the final examination. However, 13 of these patients who were not taking any treatment had abandoned it relatively recently. Even if the effectiveness of oral therapy is not fully clear, it should be remembered that continued treatment renders the patient less neglectful as far as diet is concerned. Tests for microangiopathy in the three diabetic patients were negative.