Diabetes is one of the leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally.
A chronic metabolic disease occurs when the body has elevated blood sugar levels.
There are several types of diabetes but the most common are type 1 and type 2. But have heard of Diabetes type 1.5?
Known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), diabetes type 1.5 has features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1.5 occurs when the immune system attacks the pancreas cells that make insulin.
However, people with type 1.5 often don’t need insulin immediately as the condition develops more slowly.
Unlike diabetes type 1, most people diagnosed with diabetes type 1.5 will need to use insulin within five years of diagnosis.
People over 30 are most likely to get diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes. This is usually older than the typical age for type 1 diabetes but younger than the usual diagnosis age for type 2.