New system of classifying diabetes ‘could revolutionise treatment’

Scientists have developed a new approach to classifying diabetes that could result in the disease being categorised into several distinct subgroups.

The Lund University research monitored 13,720 newly-diagnosed patients with diabetes, combining measurements of insulin resistance, insulin secretion, blood sugar levels and age at diagnosis to distinguish five distinct clusters that are not reflected by current classifications.

While the first of these groups essentially corresponded to the standard understanding of type 1 diabetes, it was found that multiple categories exist among type 2 diabetes patients, with varying contributory factors and secondary disease risks.

In particular, the third of the five groups – those with diabetes characterised by obesity and severe insulin resistance, with the highest incidence of kidney damage – were shown to be the group at greatest risk of being incorrectly diagnosed at present.

Leif Groop, professor of diabetes and endocrinology at Lund University, said: "Current diagnostics and classification of diabetes are insufficient and unable to predict future complications or choice of treatment … This is the first step towards personalised treatment of diabetes."

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