The Third Type of Diabetes?
Many people know there are 2 types of diabetes. Type 1, formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes and type 2 or adult-onset diabetes. Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced diabetes resembles type 2.
But did you know there is a third type of diabetes known as LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults) or type 1.5 diabetes?
What are the differences? Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in babies to young adulthood. Those that have some type of genetic pre-disposition to diabetes get a virus such as mononucleosis or the flu bug which triggers the pancreas to stop producing insulin. This type of diabetes requires life-long insulin therapy.
Although Type 2 diabetes used to occur later in life we are now seeing young children and adolescents develop type 2. It is brought on by a combination of genetics, weight, poor diet choices, and inactivity. Insulin resistance precedes adult onset diabetes and occurs when your insulin becomes almost “sleepy” or sluggish, which increases carbohydrate cravings, weight issues and fatigue. This type of diabetes can usually be controlled with lifestyle and oral medications.
The third type of diabetes is not as well known or understood. Rather than the insulin being resistant, with LADA or type 1.5, an individual’s insulin becomes deficient. The cells of their pancreas stop producing as much insulin as they once did – like a slowly developing type I diabetes.
This individual is usually thin, has slowly increasing blood sugars and develops diabetes over many months or years. This type of diabetes is caused by the person’s immune system which develops antibodies that attack the pancreas hence lowering the amount of insulin produced over time.
Many times this type of diabetes is misdiagnosed or treated as type 2. What do you do if you suspect you have LADA? Ask your doctor to check a blood test called the c-peptide and measure over time. C-peptide is a simple blood test which measures how much insulin your pancreas is producing. Knowing the value can determine whether your antibody levels need to be checked.
What can you do in terms of your lifestyle? Diet balance is essential and eating plenty of protein, healthy fats and moderating your carbohydrate intake with non-starchy sources such as fruits and vegetables can help give the pancreas a rest and keep your blood sugars normalized.
Exercise helps the insulin you do make much more effective and efficient – up to 50%. Besides diet and exercise, sleep and stress management are invaluable in keeping your system healthy.
If you suspect you may have LADA lifestyle and self-monitoring are of utmost importance. Knowing what to do and what parameters to check can keep your system in good health.
September 23, 2010 @ 4:01 am
Hi susan,
who would have thought there is this third kind of diabetes? and the name is peculiar too. anyhow, this is not a joking matter. having a disease that's difficult to fight is already depressing. what we need when we have this disease is the support of everyone dear to us. thank you for this valuable information. 🙂
September 24, 2010 @ 9:52 am
Hi Susan
I stumbled on your post by accident and I am very happy I did, I will check out with a blood test the c-peptide.
your post is very informative about Diabetes. As I suffer from Diabetes now in a very low stage was on insulin but research online and changed my food intake completely no instant foods anymore, eliminating carb and eating only foods I cook myself I was able to reduce my blood sugar to a level where I take only one tablet for prevention
Thanks for the info
February 7, 2011 @ 9:45 am
Great information. I need to do a little research and learn more about this type 3 diabetes. Thanks for adding this article