What is LADA?
LADA, or Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, is diagnosed during adulthood like most cases of type 2 diabetes. However, LADA is an autoimmune disease, like type 1 diabetes, and sooner or later the insulinproducing beta cells in the pancreas will be destroyed. Eventually, insulin is needed for survival, usually within a few months to years of type 2 diagnosis, if it has not been diagnosed properly with GAD antibody tests.
This type of diabetes has been referred to as type 1.5, or slow onset diabetes, because it is a form of type 1 diabetes but at early diagnosis often gets confused with type 2 diabetes.
Some features of LADA may include:
being slim or at least not overweight
a history of autoimmune problems
no ketoacidosis at diagnosis
a positive GAD antibody test (blood test).
The patient may need insulin relatively soon after initial diagnosis – usually within months to years.
If you think you may have LADA, talk to your GP or diabetes provider. There are blood tests available to confirm this type of diabetes.
Out of the blue: Jack’s diagnosis of LADA
When Jack Kofoed spent a few of his school years in London, each lunchtime he’d watch the Concorde as it flew over. Years later, his dream of becoming a pilot eventuated and he was well on his way to working for an airline. That is until some unruly blood tests were returned.