Bronze diabetes is caused by deposition of which element?

• A. Iron
• B. Copper
• C. Zinc
• D. Manganese

Answer: (A)

Bronze diabetes is a classic result of iron overload in the body. When iron accumulates in tissues, it deposits in the pancreas and damages the insulin-secreting beta cells, leading to diabetes, while iron deposition in the skin causes a bronze discoloration. This combination—bronzed skin plus diabetes—is characteristic of hereditary hemochromatosis. Other metals, like copper (as in Wilson’s disease), zinc, or manganese, don’t produce this presentation, so the depositing element responsible here is iron.