Diagnosis and management of maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)

December 05, 2011

Gaya Thanabalasingham and Katharine R Owen. BMJ. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d6044

The authors remind us that Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) comprises a heterogeneous group of monogenic disorders characterised by ß cell dysfunction, and is estimated to be the underlying cause of diabetes in 1-2% of patients diagnosed with diabetes.

They posit that prevalence estimates will not be accurate until large population screening studies are performed. In their review they discuss when the general physician might suspect MODY and how to identify which patients with diabetes should be offered genetic testing.

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