[Case report: diabetes flatbush - from ketoacidosis to non pharmacological treatment]. / Relato de caso: diabetes Flatbush - da cetoacidose ao tratamento não-farmacológico.

ABSTRACT

A subgroup of patients presents diabetic ketoacidosis at the onset of diabetes mellitus (DM) but later is classified as type 2 DM based on the clinical follow-up. These individuals, most commonly obese of African or Hispanic origin, have negative auto-antibodies associated with type 1 DM, but frequently HLA class II DRB1*03 and/or DRB1*04 are detected. This peculiar subtype of DM is commonly referred to as diabetes flatbush. Here we report the case of a Caucasian patient that exhibited the described evolution and in whom it was possible to withdraw insulin therapy. The possible factors associated with this favorable development are also discussed.