Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Number of Conditions: 2
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Diabetes Mellitus and Related Disorders
Sub-category: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Symptoms:
gradual onset of hyperglycemia; excessive thirst (polydipsia); frequent urination (polyuria); fatigue; blurred vision; weight loss
Root Cause:
A slow-progressing autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in reduced insulin production. Often misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes due to its slower progression.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through positive islet autoantibodies and gradual insulin dependence.
Treatment:
Treated initially with oral antidiabetics (e.g., metformin) and progression to insulin therapy as beta-cell function declines.
Medications:
Initially, oral medications such as metformin or sulfonylureas may be used. Insulin therapy becomes necessary as the disease progresses. Insulin is classified as a hormone replacement therapy.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for approximately 5–10% of all diabetes cases; more common in adults over 30 but often underdiagnosed.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of autoimmune conditions, genetic predisposition (e.g., certain HLA genes), and environmental factors.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With early diagnosis and treatment, blood sugar levels can be effectively managed. Delayed diagnosis may increase the risk of complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Similar to type 1 diabetes, including an increased risk of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular complications.
Insulin Resistance and Relative Insulin Deficiency
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Diabetes Mellitus and Related Disorders
Sub-category: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Symptoms:
increased hunger (polyphagia); frequent urination (polyuria); excessive thirst (polydipsia); fatigue; blurred vision; slow-healing wounds; darkened skin patches (acanthosis nigricans)
Root Cause:
Impaired cellular response to insulin leads to reduced glucose uptake, causing the pancreas to overproduce insulin to compensate. This contributes to beta-cell dysfunction and relative insulin deficiency over time.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests such as fasting glucose levels, HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and insulin levels; physical exam identifying symptoms like acanthosis nigricans.
Treatment:
Lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise), weight management, medications to improve insulin sensitivity or lower blood glucose, and in some cases, insulin therapy.
Medications:
Metformin
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Insulin resistance is a hallmark of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, affecting up to 39% of the global adult population, with higher rates in obese and sedentary individuals.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), age over 45, and certain ethnicities (e.g., African American, Hispanic, Asian).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper management, progression to diabetes can be delayed or prevented. Uncontrolled, it leads to chronic hyperglycemia and complications such as cardiovascular disease and neuropathy.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, kidney damage, and nerve damage (neuropathy).