7 Facts about Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

潜在的自身免疫性糖尿病成人misnomer in that it isn’t actually latent. Latent conditions are usually known to be present yet does not show itself right away. For LADA to be diagnosed (Dotta et. al, 2005), there needs to be evidence of an autoimmune-related cause.

People diagnosed with LADA are usually over the age of 30 (Cernea et al., 2009). So it appears that most of the time the disorder happens in middle adulthood, though this isn’t always the case.

LADA is sometimes referred to as Type 1.5 diabetes due to its similarities to both disorders. Because their pancreas still produces some insulin initially, people with LADA are often misdiagnosed as having Type 2 diabetes. And like Type 2 diabetes, LADA can be managed with diet and exercise early on. But like Type 1 diabetes, insulin will eventually be needed.

LADA is an autoimmune disease similar to Type 1 diabetes. However, there are no definitive recommendations for how to screen for LADA (Mayo Clinic, 2013).There are different markers and symptoms to consider, but this is one of the areas where more information is needed.

Most cases of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults are diagnosed initially as Type 2 since patients often exhibit similar symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and high levels of sugar in the blood.

LADA is commonly confused with Type 2 diabetes in the beginning so patients typically undergo traditional glucose testing to get a diagnosis. Most of the time, LADA is only suspected after a patient starts to show little or no response to oral diabetes medications. Antibodies in the blood can also be an indicator of LADA.

Treatment is another area where more research is needed. There’s currently no established management strategy for people who have LADA(Mayo Clinic, 2013). There is some research, though, that shows that giving small doses of insulin soon after diagnosis may be beneficial (Cernea et al., 2009). If you have been diagnosed with LADA, you need to follow up closely with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment.