Other Types of Diabetes
Other not so common types of diabetes are LADA (Late Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) and MODY (Maturity onset diabetes of the young).
Other Types of Diabetes
- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)
- Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)
What is LADA?
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) is a slowly developing form of type 1 diabetes also called as type 1.5 that is diagnosed in adulthood. Similar to normal type 1 diabetes, also the autoimmune process of LADA destroys cells in the pancreas but slowly, eventually need insulintreatment.
Youtube video on LADA
LADA is different from diabetes type 2 still people with LADA are frequently misdiagnosed because both diabetes occur in adulthood with similar symptoms. Over time, this misdiagnosis can lead to uncontrolled blood sugar levels, which can develop serious life-threatening diabetic complications.
How does a doctor distinguish between Type 2 and Type 1.5 (LADA)?
LADA can be diagnosed based on 2 blood tests currently in use to detect LADA:
- GAD Antibody test: GAD (Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase) is an enzyme that is produced during beta cells of pancreas are attacked by inflammatory cells. GAD is considered as a marker for a diagnosis of LADA in adults.
- C-Peptide test: C-Peptide (an amino acid) produced by the pancreas proportional to the amounts of insulin in produce. A low level of C-peptide in the blood indicated that the pancreas is not producing enough insulin and can suggest LADA in a type 2 patient.
What is MODY?
Most commonly MODY (also called as genetic diabetes) behaves like a very mild form of type 1 diabetes, with continued partial insulin secretion with normal insulin sensitivity. It is not diabetes type 2 in a young person, as might incorrectly be inferred from the name.
MODY is a diabetes type with six basic sub classifications depending upon the gene that is responsible for its onset (there may be more, but so far, only six genes have been identified in MODY). Only some 1 to 2% of type 1 diabetics has this variety of diabetes but mostly goes unrecognized. MODY is an autosomal predominant inherited disease, means an inherited single (auto) gene that can be come from either parent. If a parent has MODY then their children have a 50% more chance of developing MODY.
MODY is dominantly inherited; a monogenic defect of insulin secretion that may occur at any age, and it is no longer includes any forms of diabetes type 2.
MODY is not only diagnosed exclusively in adolescents and the research knowledge shows it can be diagnosed up to an age 55.