LADA: Why So Many Adults Are Misdiagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes

Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, only to discover later it was actually type 1? You're not alone.

In this episode of the TCOYD Podcast, Dr. Steve Edelman is joined by Dr. Schaefer Boeder, endocrinologist, Medical Director of Paradigm Research, Associate Professor at UCSD, for an eye-opening discussion about LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)—one of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions in diabetes. Together, they explain why so many adults are initially misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes despite the warning signs that should raise suspicion for LADA, and why getting the correct diagnosis can dramatically change treatment and long-term outcomes.

The conversation explores how LADA differs from both classic type 1 and type 2 diabetes, why the autoimmune process develops more slowly, and when antibody testing should be considered. Dr. Edelman and Dr. Boeder also discuss the importance of preserving beta cell function, the role of continuous glucose monitoring, advances in disease-modifying therapies, and why there has never been a more exciting time for research in adults who developed type 1 diabetes later in life. Whether you've been diagnosed with LADA, care for someone who has, or simply want to better understand adult-onset autoimmune diabetes, this episode provides practical guidance and hope for more accurate diagnoses in the future.

Key Topics:

• What is LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)?
• Why LADA is so often mistaken for type 2 diabetes
• Common signs that may point to a misdiagnosis
• How LADA differs from classic type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Why many adults don't fit the "typical" diabetes profile
• Autoantibody testing and when it should be considered
• The role of GAD antibodies and C-peptide testing
• Why preserving beta cell function matters
• Preventing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) through earlier diagnosis
• How continuous glucose monitoring can ease the transition to insulin
• Current treatment approaches for adults with LADA
• The latest research on disease-modifying therapies and preserving insulin production
• Screening resources, clinical trials, and where the future of LADA research is headed

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