Diabetes has been one of the standard factors of ailment affecting people. Our lifestyle, environmental factors, stress, obesity and other factors are the leading cause of this disease. There are various kinds of diabetes.

Let’s know some facts about type 1.5 diabetes, a new trend of ailment causing permanent damage to our immunity system.

What is type 1.5 diabetes?

It is a nonofficial term which is often used to describe a sickness, a particular form of type 1 diabetes called Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA). Mostly it is diagnosed during adulthood. Like any autoimmune disease, it will require insulin therapy might be in future.

What are the causes of type 1.5 diabetes?

Although it is difficult to determine the underlying reasons for type 1.5 diabetes, still past researches have revealed that the autoimmune components of type 1, 1.5 and 2 Diabetes often overlap in some antibodies and become confused. This acts against beta cells of the pancreas. They have antibodies to GAD bodies. Individuals with type 1.5 diabetes tend not to be obese.

What are the symptoms of type 1.5 diabetes?

The various symptoms of this disease are characterized by:

• Having an increased frequency towards thirst.
• Having an increased incidence of urination.
• Having an unintentional weight loss.
• The level of c peptide (an ordinary substance marked as biomarker in type 1 and type 1.5) is low.
• Patients with type 1.5 diabetes are often diagnosed with heart problems once their diabetes comes under control after treatment.

How does misdiagnosis affect people with type 1.5 diabetes?

People are often diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Now, once they are given medication, they do not heal with insulin as they become resistant to it.

How to treat type1.5 diabetes?

Researchers say that there is no single treatment available for type 1.5 diabetes. Results of a 2010 research reveal that early insulin is useful for prevention of this disease. But later it showed that insulin administration did not prove useful for the patient. People with LADA who are obese should strictly follow a guideline to reduced calorie diet.  They are advised to follow strict exercise and other calorie burning means. Doctors treat these patients for cardiovascular risks. These patients are said to have similar chances to coronary heart disease like that of type 2 diabetes.

What does misdiagnosis of type 1.5 diabetes lead?

There are various cases where adults who are misdiagnosed for multiple reasons. Sometimes young, obese adults with negative family history tend to rapid deterioration of glycemic control.

Many adults diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes are within 33 years of age. Mostly they are diagnosed with the disease at 20 years of age and retained for six years.  They have a mean body mass index of 18.2 kg per meter. Dr. Srivastav, MD from Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Kolkata, India says that Indian diabetic patients are highly needle phobic and reluctant to insulin, that’s why they recommend oral doses of diabetic medicine.

Patients who are misdiagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are given doses of insulin. But, since they lack resistance to the insulin it does not work on them. People with this sickness are said to suffer from double diabetes as they show symptoms of being affected by type 1 diabetes also. They seem to be prone to autoimmune disease. Maintaining a tight glucose blood control can help in the destruction of beta cells and reduce the damage of beta cells.  Sometimes a combination of Insulin and Rogizitalone is said to increase heart risk to people.

Since type 1.5 diabetes is detected in adulthood, it is instead treated with restricted diet and other medicine administration. The sole treatment for this ailment apart from medication is to burn calories and make sure that the food taken is absorbed to all level.