A study involving 894 youth-onset diabetes patients in Cameroon, Uganda, and South Africa has identified a new form of type 1 diabetes that differs from the standard autoimmune process. The disease affects 65% of African children and adolescents with youth-onset diabetes, who do not have typical autoantibodies or genetic markers associated with the condition. Instead, they exhibit negative autoantibodies and low genetic risk scores.
The study’s findings contradict previous research on white Western populations, which focused on autoimmune type 1 diabetes. The new form of the disease presents differently in African children and adolescents, challenging assumptions about its causes and treatment approaches.
Researchers say that this discovery is a “wake-up call” and highlights the need for further investigation into the biological and environmental factors driving this unique form of diabetes. The study’s co-leaders urge clinicians to adapt their diagnostic and treatment methods to better serve African populations with type 1 diabetes.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/type-1-diabetes-symptoms-new-form-africa-b2794493.html