About 30,000 people in the United States are living with Cystic fibrosis (CF). Moreover, many CF patients develop diabetes, and it is not a standard form. The diabetes that strikes CF sufferers looks like both type 1 and type 2, and it seems to follow a disease-related defect in pancreatic beta cell function.
CF patients create their own insulin, but often not enough of it—so they need injected insulin to cover meals. Many are also very insulin-resistant.
Cystic fibrosis results from a faulty gene—and this fault impairs the normal passage of salt and water through the body’s cells. Researchers from the University of Florida believe this impairment damages insulin production. These researchers are calling for all patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis to be given an oral glucose tolerance test, and, if positive, to be treated for their diabetes.