Diagnosis in diabetes: does it matter?

The diagnosis of diabetes subtypes in a busy clinic is usually based on the age at onset, phenotype and biochemical diagnostic criteria. Not surprisingly, the focus is predominantly on diagnosing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. More challenging for the physician is to think of monogenic diabetes, which results from gene mutations that reduce beta cell function. Often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is the most common form of monogenic diabetes, accounting for 1–2% of all diabetes cases.

Diagnosis in diabetes: does it matter?

The diagnosis of diabetes subtypes in a busy clinic is usually based on the age at onset, phenotype and biochemical diagnostic criteria. Not surprisingly, the focus is predominantly on diagnosing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. More challenging for the physician is to think of monogenic diabetes, which results from gene mutations that reduce beta cell function. Often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is the most common form of monogenic diabetes, accounting for 1–2% of all diabetes cases.