In this article, we will learn everything about the Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, commonly known as MODY.
It is a very rare condition of diabetes, affecting only 1-2% of the diabetic population.
Meaning, for every 100 individuals suffering from diabetes, 1 or 2 of them could suffer from MODY.
MODY is different from type 1 and type 2 diabetes which are the popularly classified types of diabetes. However, the disease manifestation in the body, symptoms, side effects and complications of MODY is very similar to type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Causes of MODY
MODY is the type of diabetes caused by a single gene defect or mutation. This means that the genes in our body which control the synthesis and production of insulin from the pancreas get affected, leading to insulin deficiency and difficulty in regulating the blood glucose levels, causing diabetes.
What causes this gene mutation?
To understand gene mutation, it is important to know that genes are the primary physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes control everything in our body, from our hair and skin colour to our height, and the inheritance of diseases etc.
Few genes in our body govern the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. If these genes do not function properly, it leads to impairment in the functioning of the pancreas and dysregulation in the insulin-glucose metabolism.
Understanding the inheritance pattern of MODY:
The genes responsible for MODY are autosomal dominant.
This means if one of the parents has a defective gene causing
MODY, half of the children will carry the mutated gene.
The mutated gene which causes MODY will be passed onto
50% of the children from the previous generation i.e if a couple
has 6 children, then 3 of them will develop MODY. And the
chances of this passing on from this child to the next generation will again be 50%.
Why is it called Maturity Onset Diabetes of the ‘Young’?
As the name suggests, this disease usually affects the young population or people below the age of 25.
The major differences between MODY and type 1 & type 2 diabetes:
- Does not always require insulin administration
- Affects the young population
- Runs in generations
Types of MODY:
- HNF1-alpha: most common type of MODY which affects over 70% of the people with MODY. This type does not require insulin and can be treated with medication.
- HNF4-alpha: This is a rare type of MODY where the children are born heavy-weight. Children who are born with MODY develop MODY at a later age of 24-25 years of age.
- HNF1-beta: Very rare kind of MODY which requires insulin administration. Many patients suffering from this kind of MODY develop cysts in their kidneys causing complications.
- GLUCOKINASE: This type is the mildest form of MODY and does not require treatment in most patients. This can be diagnosed in regular blood profile tests where blood glucose might be slightly higher than normal.
The first three types of MODY can lead to complications such as blindness, high risk of stroke, heart attack and limb amputations.
Symptoms
MODY just like type 1 and type 2 diabetes may go unnoticed. However, people with a family history of MODY are at a higher risk of developing it.
Some common symptoms may include
- Dehydration
- Frequent thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Recurrent skin and yeast infections
- Delayed wound healing
- Blurry vision
Testing
If a patient suspects that they have MODY because it runs in the family, then it is recommended that they consult a diabetes specialist and get themselves tested through gene testing or urine tests to check for defective proteins in the urine or blood.
Maturity onset diabetes in today’s youth:
In today’s day and age, long working hours have paved the way for a sedentary lifestyle leading to early-onset of diseases like diabetes. Naturally, certain lifestyle modifications can not only help in keeping such life-threatening diseases at bay but also makes us more capable of moderating the effects of disease and gaining more control over our health.
What to do if you have MODY?
Improve your lifestyle habits by becoming more active and eating healthier to keep your blood glucose levels in check.
Patients who are diagnosed with MODY are advised to take up gene counselling since they run the risk of passing it on to the next generation. It is also important to consult a diabetes specialist to become aware of the treatment practices and habits they need to follow for effective disease management.