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Nowadays, due to wrong eating habits and bad lifestyle, the number of diabetes patients is increasing day by day. This is a serious disease and it is very important to get it treated on time. In such a situation, it is very important to have the right information about diabetes. You must have heard about type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but do you know about type 1.5 diabetes?
Type 1.5 diabetes is a disease that resembles both type 1 and type 2, but is often misdiagnosed. It is also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Lance Bass, famous for his role in the iconic American pop band NSYNC, recently revealed that he has the disease, after which more and more people have become aware of the disease. So, what is type 1.5 diabetes? And how is it diagnosed and treated?
Types of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a group of conditions that occur when the level of glucose (sugar) in our blood is higher than normal. There are more than 10 types of diabetes, but the most common are type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make the hormone insulin. This leads to little or no insulin production. Insulin is important for moving glucose from the blood into our cells so it can be used for energy, which is why people with type 1 diabetes need insulin medication every day. Type 1 diabetes usually appears in children or young adults.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune problem. Rather, it occurs when the body's cells become resistant to insulin over time, and the pancreas is not able to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Unlike type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes can produce some insulin. Type 2 is more common in adults, but is increasingly seen in children and young people. Management can include behavioral changes such as nutrition and physical activity, as well as medications and insulin therapy.
How is type 1.5 diabetes different from types 1 and 2?
Like type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 occurs when the immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that make insulin. But people with type 1.5 often don't need insulin right away because their condition develops gradually. Most people with type 1.5 diabetes will need to use insulin within five years of diagnosis, whereas people with type 1 usually need it from the time of diagnosis.
Type 1.5 diabetes is usually diagnosed in people over the age of 30, possibly due to the slower progression of the condition. This is older than the typical age for type 1 diabetes, but younger than the typical diagnosis age for type 2. Type 1.5 diabetes shares genetic and autoimmune risk factors with type 1 diabetes, such as specific gene variants. However, evidence also shows it can be influenced by lifestyle factors such as obesity and physical inactivity that are more commonly associated with type 2 diabetes.
What are its symptoms and how is it treated?
The symptoms of type 1.5 diabetes vary widely between people. Some people may have no symptoms at all. But in general, people may have the following symptoms:
* Feeling very thirsty
* frequent urination
* feeling tired
* Blurred vision
* Unexplained weight loss.
Typically, type 1.5 diabetes is initially treated with medications to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range. Depending on their glucose control and the medication they are using, people with type 1.5 diabetes may need to monitor their blood sugar levels regularly throughout the day.
When average blood sugar levels rise beyond the normal range, even with medications, treatment may progress to insulin. However, there is no universally accepted management or treatment strategy for type 1.5 diabetes. Lance Bass said he was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but later found out he had type 1.5 diabetes. This is not entirely uncommon. An estimated 5-10% of cases of type 1.5 diabetes are misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Possible causes of type 1.5 diabetes
* To accurately diagnose type 1.5 diabetes and distinguish it from other types of diabetes, special antibody tests (a type of blood test) are needed to detect autoimmune markers. Not all healthcare professionals routinely recommend this test, either because of cost concerns or because they cannot afford it.
* Type 1.5 diabetes is more commonly found in adults, so doctors may incorrectly assume a person has type 2 diabetes, which is more common in this age group (while type 1 diabetes usually affects children and young adults).
* People with type 1.5 diabetes often make enough insulin in their bodies that they don't need to take insulin medication and they can control their blood sugar levels. This can make their condition seem similar to type 2 diabetes, where people still make some insulin.
* Finally, since type 1.5 diabetes has symptoms similar to those of type 2 diabetes, it may initially be misdiagnosed as type 2.
There is little research on how common type 1.5 diabetes is compared to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, especially in non-European populations. In 2023, it was estimated that type 1.5 diabetes will represent 8.9% of all diabetes cases, which is similar to type 1. However, we need more research to get accurate numbers.
Overall, there is limited awareness of type 1.5 diabetes and the diagnostic criteria are unclear, slowing our understanding of the condition. Misdiagnosis can be stressful and confusing. For people with type 1.5 diabetes, misdiagnosis with type 2 diabetes can mean they don't get the insulin they need in time. This can lead to poor health and increase the likelihood of complications in the future.
Having the correct diagnosis helps people get the right treatment, save money, and reduce the risk of diabetes. If you're experiencing symptoms that you think may indicate diabetes, or you're feeling uncertain about the diagnosis you've already received, monitor your symptoms and talk to your doctor.