Atypical Diabetes: The Next Frontier in Precision Medicine

As research deepens into the biology of diabetes, experts are increasingly recognizing that many patients fall outside the traditional classifications of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. These "atypical" forms of diabetes are shedding light on the mechanisms of insulin secretion, resistance, and autoimmunity, prompting calls for a new, more nuanced classification system based on distinct disease endotypes. A recent review underscores how studying atypical diabetes is advancing both biological understanding and clinical care, providing frameworks for diagnosis based on clinical, metabolic, and molecular profiles.

While precision medicine tools—such as genome sequencing and metabolomics—are not yet standard in diabetes care, initiatives like the Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) are paving the way. These efforts aim to build a comprehensive catalog of diabetes forms, bringing multiomics closer to routine clinical practice. Experts predict that such advances will eventually transform diabetes care by enabling tailored treatments for every patient.

 Source:  Diabetes Care. 2024 Sep 1;47(9):1713. doi: 10.2337/dc24-er09a.