Substantiation for Approaches to Treatment of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

The objective of this study was to substantiate the approaches to the treatment of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults on the basis of a comprehensive clinical examination of patients with this form of the disease. Research design and methods. The study involved 121 patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults — 60 patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and 81 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. The results and discussion. On the manifestation stage a significant increase in blood glucose was established in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults. Prescribed oral hypoglycemic therapy led to decompensation within 3 years that required transferring to insulin therapy. C-peptide level in patients of this group matched that parameter in type 1 diabetic patients. That confirmed the reduction of β-cells insulin-producing function. Revealing microvascular complications only in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults should be attributed to the phenomenon of «metabolic memory». Conclusions. Analysis of carbohydrate metabolism on the manifestation stage and over time development of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults as well as reduction of β-cells insulin-producing function associated with autoimmune insulitis and progressing while the development of this form of disease, substantiate the rational for insulin administration as this form of diabetes has been diagnosed. If patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults have metabolic syndrome clusters it is quite reasonable to add metformin to insulin.