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Classification/Types of Diabetes - Discussion/References

I think maybe these are fairly old references where they were determined to categorise everything as Type 1 or Type 2. They now understand that those of us with GAD antibodies who are clearly still producing insulin but don't fit the type 2 metabolic syndrome pattern are actually LADA and there are rather a lot of us - but we still tend to get lumped into Type 1 as our condition is autoimmune and tends to progress to Type 1.

Smidge
 
that literature seems to be quite confusing...........


I keep it simple

Type 1: Immune system destroy beta cells, this includes type 1.5, this is just a variant of type 1, a slower onset/destruction of the beta cells....

Type 2: Insulin resistance and/or low levels of insulin production to match the bodies needs....

It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that........as long as the above mechanisms can be identified then a suitable treatment can begin......

:)
 
I actually forgot MODY............as I assume it manifested in similar ways, but a genetic defect that effects the blood glucose detecting abilities of the body [just one form of MODY] is a completely different type in my eyes........

that link shows a type called double diabetes, WHAT, its type 1 with elevated insulin resistance........


someone has had a lot of fun making them up........lol
 
I think the best list is from the ADA. doc http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/Supplement_1/S67/T1.expansion.html

Sorry, I don't think that you can keep it simple and the more we learn the more complicated it will get. Diabetes with different causes may need very different treatments.
I could give a very long list here's just a few reasons why 2 categories simplify things too much.

It has only recently become known that children diagnosed as T1 in the first 6 months of life may actually have a form of MODY If so, they may well get better control with Sulfs rather than insulin. Genetic testing has made this diagnosis relatively simple but it wasn't available in the past . (so there are people who have thought that they were insulin dependent for years who have transitioned to Sulfs after years on insulin)
newspaper story on why it matters: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/04/genetics-neonatal-diabetes-jack-neighbour

People who are carriers for genetic forms of D including MODY and Mitochondrial diabetes may also benefit from genetic counselling as might their children. Some may also wish to consider the use preimplantation genetic testing . You can't do that if you are wrongly categorised as T1 or T2.

.Someone who has had their pancreas totally removed is neither T1 nor T2 . They are often called T1 but as they have no alpha or beta cells and no pancreatic enzymes they need very different care from someone who has 'normal' T1.

Type 2 probably covers a lot of different conditions. Recently one British doctor said 'it was a disease in search of a definition' it had ' no hallmark clinical features' and 'is generally diagnosed by default (no other cause for diabetes being evident)' http://www.diapedia.org/downloads/category_error.pdf
 
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