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Statements of Principles

Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease - Diabetes mellitus Factor

Diabetes mellitus

Definition

Diabetes  mellitus is an endocrine disease where there is diminished insulin action. It can also be referred to as "sugar diabetes", juvenile onset diabetes, Type I diabetes, IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), NIDDM (non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), Type II diabetes and maturity onset diabetes.

RMA definition of diabetes mellitus

Signs and symptoms

  • Insulin dependent diabetes usually begins before the age of 40 with the abrupt onset of symptoms such as thirst, excessive urination, increased appetite and weight loss.
  • Non insulin dependent diabetes usually begins in middle life or beyond, and the typical patient is overweight. The onset of symptoms is more gradual, or there may be no symptoms and diabetes is diagnosed on routine testing.

Establishing onset

If a veteran had diabetes mellitus there would be specific evidence with regard to blood sugar levels and the need for diet, weight loss, insulin or drugs to lower blood sugar levels (eg Daonil, Euglocon, Glimel, Diabinese, Rastinon, Diamicron, Minidiab, Melizide), drugs to help insulin work better (eg Diabex, Diaformin, Glucophage) and drugs to slow the digestion of carbohydrates (eg Glucobay).

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 20 DECEMBER 2002.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [9248]

489        the veteran has diabetes mellitus.

10547 the veteran has insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1).

or

10548 the veteran has non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2).

30268  the veteran has established the causal connection between the diabetes mellitus and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

3441     the veteran had the identified illness or injury before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30269   the veteran has established the causal connection between this diabetes mellitus and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30282  the veteran has established the causal connection between this diabetes mellitus and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

30283  the veteran has established the causal connection between this diabetes mellitus and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

7903     the veteran had the identified illness or injury before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30270   the veteran has established the causal connection between this diabetes mellitus and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30284  the veteran has established the causal connection between this diabetes mellitus and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

30285  the veteran has established the causal connection between this diabetes mellitus and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [30282]

17527  the identified illness or injury, a type of diabetes mellitus, is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [30283]

17528  the identified illness or injury, a type of diabetes mellitus, is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [30284]

17527  the identified illness or injury, a type of diabetes mellitus, is causally related to operational service.

26450 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [30285]

17528  the identified illness or injury, a type of diabetes mellitus, is causally related to eligible service.

26451 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury is causally related.