Genetic study identifies two distinct subtypes of type 1 diabetes

A large-scale international genetic study suggests that type 1 diabetes may actually consist of at least two distinct subtypes. Researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate differences between patients with specific genetic profiles.

The study examined 9,091 individuals with type 1 diabetes and a control group of 14,157 people. Findings published in the journal Diabetologia indicate that the genetic differences between those with the HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 patterns are significant enough to suggest they represent separate subtypes of the disease.

Distinguishing between these subtypes could lead to more personalized treatments and a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms driving the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. While type 1 diabetes is characterized by this destruction, the exact causes and the varying clinical progression from childhood to adulthood remain areas of intense study.