New study identifies five types of diabetes

Tamil Nadu, with its 3.5 to 4 million diabetics, leads the state-wise list in the country of 72 million diabetics. “The knowledge could help doctors identify which patients would suffer certain complications. 

Also, a doctor would no longer have to classify all patients who do not fall under the Type-I diabetes as Type-II owing to the sub types that fall under the latter type,” said Dr K Titus, a Diabetologist.

The research done by scientists from Lund University diabetes centre, Sweden, and the Institute for molecular medicine, Finland, had recast the adult-onset diabetes into the three distinct types. 

They identified a total of five types, namely, autoimmune diabetes, diabetes associated with severe insulin resistance, early onset insulin deficient diabetes in patients with poor metabolic control but no auto immunity, severely insulin-deficient patients, and lastly age-onset diabetes. “This will help in early treatment for the patients,” the researchers had said. 

Stating that both the obese related and the thinner Type II are the most common forms in India, Dr V Mohan, chairman and chief of diabetology, Dr Mohan’s diabetes specialities centre, said, “Of late, however, obesity related diabetes is slowly increasing as also the age-related diabetes, as unlike earlier, people are now living longer.” 

Explaining the benefits of classifying the diabetics under sub categories, he added, “Diabetics who are obese, will require certain types of medication such as Metformin and if it does not work, we may have to give them more metformin as giving them insulin would not make much of a difference. 

On the other hand, insulin deficient patients, who do not have much of insulin, will be administered certain medicines, to which if they do not respond, we will give them necessary drugs as we know that they are insulin deficient. This will help us accurately classify and administer treatment knowing what will be needed for which patient.”