Primary Hemochromatosis and Diabetes Mellitus

Q: What are the components of the triad of "bronze diabetes"?

Answer: Skin hyperpigmentation occurs in patients with iron overload due to the combination of iron deposition and melanin. The classic triad of bronze diabetes is

• skin pigmentation
• cirrhosis
• diabetes

Skin hyperpigmentation usually occurs when total-body iron content reaches around 20 grams.

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References:

1. L N A, Shenoy MT, Yadav C, M S R, Kamath N. Bronze diabetes. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Apr;9(4):BD01-2. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/11515.5799. Epub 2015 Apr 1. PMID: 26023548; PMCID: PMC4437060.

2. Raju K, Venkataramappa SM. Primary Hemochromatosis Presenting as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report with Review of Literature. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2018 Jan-Mar;8(1):57-60. doi: 10.4103/ijabmr.IJABMR_402_16. PMID: 29552540; PMCID: PMC5846224.