Type 1.5 diabetes: How is it different from type 1, type 2 diabetes?

A lot of people believe that there are two kinds of diabetes namely type 1 and type 2. Interestingly, there is another type that does not fit into both these groups, which is type 1.5 diabetes, also called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). It is a condition that has some properties and characteristics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, it is said to share more commonalities with type 1 than type 2. Like type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 has an autoimmune component, wherein your pancreas stops producing adequate insulin, and mistakenly damages the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

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There is no way to determine why the antibodies that are usually there to protect our immune system from harmful pathogens go rogue and start to destroy the body's own insulin-producing cells.

However, experts believe it could be attributed to genetics such as a family history of autoimmune conditions. Furthermore, environmental triggers could also be to blame. Factors like obesity or being overweight, viral infections and stress have been linked to type 1.5 diabetes, but researchers have not yet reached a conclusion.

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LADA is diagnosed during adulthood and happens to set in gradually like type 2 diabetes. But the two are very different because LADA is an autoimmune disease and isn’t reversible with changes in diet and lifestyle.

While it shares certain similarities with type 1 diabetes, given that it has autoimmune components, it proceeds gradually and therefore, the symptoms may be very vague. However, some of the tell-tale signs include: increased urination, increased thirst, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss and increased yeast infections.

As discussed, type 1.5 diabetes usually occurs in adulthood, specifically in people over 40, which is why it is often misunderstood with type 2 diabetes.

Nevertheless, the primary step in diagnosing the condition is to check for abnormally high blood sugar levels. But this will not determine which type of diabetes you have, which is why you may have to take a test to determine the presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD), which will indicate an immune system attack. Also, GAD is an antibody that destroys insulin-producing pancreatic cells in people with type 1.5.

Just like type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 diabetes results from your body not producing enough insulin. However, because it sets in gradually, oral medications can help during the initial treatment process.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, people diagnosed with LADA do not need insulin for several months up to years after being diagnosed. By controlling blood sugar levels with diet, exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, one can manage type 1.5 diabetes. But as the body loses its ability to produce insulin, they will need insulin shots.