<p>Ever heard your kin say diabetes runs in the family? What does this mean considering every human’s physiological make-up is distinct? A lesser-known and understood fact about diabetes is that there are four types of diabetes. We know of the three prominent ones-Type 1, Type 2 and gestational but the fourth one — Monogenic diabetes is what attributes to a small number of people living with Type 2 diabetes but its impact is a significant one.</p>.<p>One of the common misconceptions is using a blanket treatment mechanism for Type 2 diabetes, not taking into account the possibility of monogenic form of diabetes. In India, its prevalence currently accounts to about 2-5% of Type 2 diabetes patients who are less than 35 years of age. In European countries, its prevalence is a 100 in every million and it affects 1– 5% of people in USA and other industrialised countries. A monogenic form of diabetes is caused due to a single gene mutation. The most notable are Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus (NDM) and Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY). While NDM occurs in newborns and infants, MODY occurs in children and adolescents and both are often misdiagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Such forms of diabetes can only be diagnosed with genetic testing.</p>.<p>MODY is a form of diabetes which is very rare. It runs in families and is caused by a single gene mutation but can occur in 14 different forms — each with its own unique clinical characteristics. The signs and symptoms of MODY are like those of Type 1 or 2 diabetes like high blood sugar levels, feeling thirsty, frequent urination, weight loss etc. People with a family history of diabetes, and children or young people with diabetes or hyperglycaemia should opt for genetic testing, on the basis of which MODY can be detected.<br />The foremost significance of diagnosing monogenic forms of diabetes like MODY is that unless a correct diagnosis is made, patients can be suspected to have Type 1 diabetes and advised to have unnecessary lifelong insulin injections. Diabetes is not a disease and can be easily managed provided its root cause is detected. A patient living on insulin injections may have MODY which can be managed and treated with a simple and cheap prescription of sulphonylurea tablet which has been used for decades in treating diabetes. An awareness about monogenic form of diabetes can bring about a change in its treatment.</p>.<p><em><span class="italic">(The author is associate director, lab operations, MedGenome Labs)</span></em></p>
<p>Ever heard your kin say diabetes runs in the family? What does this mean considering every human’s physiological make-up is distinct? A lesser-known and understood fact about diabetes is that there are four types of diabetes. We know of the three prominent ones-Type 1, Type 2 and gestational but the fourth one — Monogenic diabetes is what attributes to a small number of people living with Type 2 diabetes but its impact is a significant one.</p>.<p>One of the common misconceptions is using a blanket treatment mechanism for Type 2 diabetes, not taking into account the possibility of monogenic form of diabetes. In India, its prevalence currently accounts to about 2-5% of Type 2 diabetes patients who are less than 35 years of age. In European countries, its prevalence is a 100 in every million and it affects 1– 5% of people in USA and other industrialised countries. A monogenic form of diabetes is caused due to a single gene mutation. The most notable are Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus (NDM) and Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY). While NDM occurs in newborns and infants, MODY occurs in children and adolescents and both are often misdiagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Such forms of diabetes can only be diagnosed with genetic testing.</p>.<p>MODY is a form of diabetes which is very rare. It runs in families and is caused by a single gene mutation but can occur in 14 different forms — each with its own unique clinical characteristics. The signs and symptoms of MODY are like those of Type 1 or 2 diabetes like high blood sugar levels, feeling thirsty, frequent urination, weight loss etc. People with a family history of diabetes, and children or young people with diabetes or hyperglycaemia should opt for genetic testing, on the basis of which MODY can be detected.<br />The foremost significance of diagnosing monogenic forms of diabetes like MODY is that unless a correct diagnosis is made, patients can be suspected to have Type 1 diabetes and advised to have unnecessary lifelong insulin injections. Diabetes is not a disease and can be easily managed provided its root cause is detected. A patient living on insulin injections may have MODY which can be managed and treated with a simple and cheap prescription of sulphonylurea tablet which has been used for decades in treating diabetes. An awareness about monogenic form of diabetes can bring about a change in its treatment.</p>.<p><em><span class="italic">(The author is associate director, lab operations, MedGenome Labs)</span></em></p>