Type 1.5 diabetes, also called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), is a condition that shares characteristics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

LADA sets in like type 2 diabetes after adulthood. LADA is an auto-immune disease that is not as easy to cure with changes in diet and lifestyle.

Your beta cells stop functioning much more quickly if you have type 1.5 diabetes than if you have type 2. It’s estimated that 10 percent of people who have diabetes have LADA.

It is easy to be misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, have a healthy weight range, and have an active lifestyle, you may have LADA.

It can be difficult to tell if you are type 1.5 diabetes. They may include:

  • It is frequent for thirst.
  • Increased urination at night.
  • unexplained weight loss
  • There are blurred vision and nerves.

“If left unaddressed, type 1.5 diabetes can lead to a condition called Diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a condition where the body can’t use sugar as fuel due to the absence of insulin. This produces harmful substances for the body.”

To understand what causes type 1.5 diabetes, it helps to understand the difference between the other main types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune condition because it’s the result of your body destroying pancreatic beta cells. These cells are what helps your body make insulin, the hormone that allows you to store glucose (sugar) in your body. People who have type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin into their bodies to survive.

Type 2 diabetes is primarily characterized by your body resisting insulin’s effects. Insulin resistance is caused by genetic and environmental factors, such as a diet high in carbohydrates, inactivity, and obesity. Type 2 diabetes can be managed with lifestyle interventions and oral medication, but many may also need insulin to keep their blood sugar under control.

Damage to your pancreas can cause type 1.5 diabetes. A family history of autoimmune conditions is one of the genetic factors that may be involved. The body destroys Pancreatic beta cells when the pancreas is damaged in type 1.5 diabetes. If the person with type 1.5 diabetes is overweight or obese, there could be some type of resistance.

It is mistaken for type 2 diabetes because it occurs in adulthood. Some people can develop this type of diabetes in their 70s or 80s, but most people with this type of diabetes are over the age of 40.

The process of getting a LADA diagnosis can take some time. Often, people (and doctors) may assume that they have type 2 diabetes because it developed later in life.

If you have type 1.5 diabetes, the treatments of type 2 diabetes can help you manage symptoms. Many people discover that they were dealing with LADA at that point. The progression to needinginsulin is much faster than with type 2 diabetes, and the response to medication for lowering blood sugar levels is poor.

People with type 1.5 diabetes tend to meet the following criteria.

  • They are not obese.
  • They are over the age of 30 at the time of the diagnosis.
  • They have been unable to manage their diabetes symptoms with lifestyle changes.

Any type of diabetes can be diagnosed with a test.

  • a fasting plasma glucose test, done on a blood draw that’s conducted after you’ve fasted for eight hours
  • an oral glucose tolerance test, done on a blood draw that’s conducted after you’ve fasted for eight hours, two hours after you have consumed a high-glucose beverage
  • a random plasma glucose test, done on a blood draw that tests your blood sugar without taking into account the last time that you ate

When you have type 1 diabetes, your blood can be tested for the specific antibodies that are present in your body.

“Your body doesn’t produce enoughinsulin can cause type 1.5 diabetes. Since it is gradual, oral medication that treats type 2 diabetes can work at first.”

People who have type 1.5 diabetes also may test positive for at least one of the antibodies that people who have type 1 diabetes tend to have. As your body slows down its production of insulin, you’ll need insulin as part of your treatment. People who have LADA often require insulin within five years of diagnosis.

The preferred method of treatment for type 1.5 diabetes is slngin. There are many different types of injections. Monitoring your blood sugar levels through frequent blood sugar testing is important because the daily dose of insulin may vary.

Life expectancy for people who have LADA is similar to people who have other types of diabetes. Higher blood sugar over a sustained period of time can lead to diabetes complications , such as kidney disease, cardiovascular problems, eye disease, and neuropathy, which can adversely affect prognosis. But with good blood sugar control, many of these complications can be prevented.

People with type 1 diabetes had a shortened life expectancy. The number of people with diabetes is changing. A normal life expectancy is possible with good blood sugar control.

Some experts feel that getting treated with insulin from the outset of your diagnosis can help preserve your beta cell function. If that’s true, getting a correct diagnosis as soon as possible is quite important.

In terms of complications that may impact outlook, thyroid disease is more prevalent in people who have LADA than in people who have type 2 diabetes. People who have diabetes that isn’t managed well tend to heal more slowly from wounds and are more likely to develop infections.

There is no way to prevent type 1.5 diabetes. There are genetic factors that play a role in the progression of this condition. Symptoms and diagnosis of type 1.5 diabetes are best avoided.