Genetic Diabetes

June 8, 2010

Nearly twenty-four million people in the United States suffer from diabetes. Most have type one or type two diabetes, the most common form of the disease, but some suffer from a genetic form of the disease called “Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young,” or “MODY.” But, most people don’t know they suffer from MODY. Now, University of Florida researchers have identified a key gene that regulates the most common type of the MODY genes. The new finding from this work may help lead to better genetic screening for people who suffer from MODY.

William Donelan/UF diabetes researcher: “This is important for making a diagnosis for a specific form of diabetes which can alter the treatment for the patient and being able to detect the specific cause of diabetes will lead to the proper treatment of patients.”

People who suffer from the most common type of MODY can easily be treated with a pill rather than relying on insulin. Researchers say diagnosing MODY in people who suffer from diabetes can be difficult and expensive.

William Donelan/UF diabetes researcher: “You are often misdiagnosed with a type 1 diabetic when you present with MODY because you appear like a type 1 diabetic. You don’t have traditional type 2 symptoms like obesity and insulin resistance.”

But UF researchers say a correct diagnosis of MODY can lead to a significant increase in quality of life.