Abstract
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults is a heterogeneous disease that is characterized by a less intensive autoimmune process and a mild metabolic decompensation at onset compared with young-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The majority of patients with adult-onset autoimmune diabetes usually do not require insulin treatment for at least 6 months after diagnosis.
Thus, they may be falsely classified as having type 2 diabetes. The onset of LADA is usually in non-obese patients older than 30 years, without prominent features of metabolic syndrome and sings of insulin resistance.
LADA is treated with insulin and combined with metformin in patients with a higher level of insulin resistance. Other oral antidiabetics as gliptins, glinitazones are under investigation as they might preserve beta-cells.