Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a term that refers to a collection of disorders in which blood sugar levels are excessively high. MODY is a monogenic form of diabetes
Did You Know? Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are polygenic, meaning they are caused by changes in numerous genes. On the other hand, monogenic diabetes is a kind of diabetes caused by mutations or alterations in a single gene.
On this World Rare Disease day, let’s learn about MODY!
What is MODY (mature-onset diabetes of the young)?
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a hereditary form of diabetes mellitus. As per a study by Harvard Medical School, MODY may account for up to 5% of all diabetes cases.
Just like any other diabetic condition, people suffering from MODY also face trouble in controlling their blood glucose levels.
MODY might be misdiagnosed as:
- Type 1 diabetes because of its detection in young adults.
- Type 2 diabetes because of the low probability of ketosis and the coexistence of overweight or obesity in some cases.
However, MODY is different from type 1 and type 2 diabetes as it is monogenic. This means a single gene in the person’s body is the reason behind this rare disease.
Note: Although MODY got its name from its maturity-onset traits in earlier studies, MODY can show up at any age.
How Does MODY Develop?
As mentioned above, MODY is monogenic diabetes, thus, caused by a single gene mutation. This is a genetic disease; hence people having diabetes in families increase the risk of passing it on to the succeeding generations.
While both type 2 diabetes and MODY can run in families, people with MODY frequently have a history of diabetes in subsequent generations. It can pass from grandparents to parents to children. This is the reason why MODY is also classified as a rare diabetic condition.
Symptoms of Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young
Symptoms of this disease develop slowly. In many cases, symptoms remain undiscovered as well. You may find some symptoms that are similar to type 1 and 2 diabetes.
- Blurry vision
- Increased thirst
- Yeast infection
- Skin infection
- Dehydration
- Frequent urination
Diagnosis and Treatment
The first step is to get a diabetes test done. Your doctor may conduct more tests to see if you have MODY or another kind of diabetes, such as type 1 or type 2.
Read More: Diabetes Health Insurance Plan
The specific treatment for MODY will depend on the genetic mutation that created the disease. MODY is typically treated with oral medicines or insulin injections, while other variants may not require treatment at all.
Regularly monitor your blood sugar to prevent yourself from the adverse effects of diabetes.
