Often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, this is characterized by a rapid immune attack on beta cells, requiring lifelong insulin therapy from the point of diagnosis.
Sometimes called "Type 1.5," LADA occurs in adults over 30. It progresses much more slowly than Type 1 and is frequently misdiagnosed as Type 2. While patients may not need insulin immediately, most eventually require it as beta-cell function declines. Key Clinical Markers
To distinguish autoimmune forms from Type 2 diabetes, clinicians use specific diagnostic tests: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) - Mayo Clinic
