Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a hereditary form of diabetes mellitus that affects insulin secretion. There are six types of MODY, which are asymptomatic and often discovered through testing. It can be managed with a low-carb, nutrient-rich diet, exercise, and oral agents. Insulin injections are rarely needed.
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young, or MODY, is a collective term used to define any of several forms of diabetes mellitus considered to be hereditary in nature. MODY usually involves situations where there is a problem with the amount of insulin naturally secreted by the body and the source of the problem appears to be inherited from the family line. Currently, the medical profession has defined six different types of MODY that can be present.
The concept of MODY was first defined in 1964. At that time, diabetes mellitus usually fell into two specific types or classes. Juvenile-onset diabetes was thought to roughly coincide with what is now known as type 1 diabetes. The second type, adult-onset diabetes, tends to correspond to what is now called type 2 diabetes.
In past years, MODY has been applied to any situation where asymptomatic hyperglycemia has been detected that has not progressed to diabetic ketosis in a child or young adult. As modern medical research has provided more insight into the nature of diabetes, this application was intended to oversimplify the situation. This has led to the recognition of the six different classes or forms of MODY currently identified.
Concomitant use of MODY specifically designates diabetic states which are thought to be present at birth and to be hereditary. This is in contrast to situations where diabetes develops due to combinations of poor dietary habits, lack of exercise, and other environmental factors that can lead to the development of diabetes later in life. Although most forms of MODY are still considered asymptomatic, there are some cases where some external signs appear. These can include frequent thirst that cannot be satiated, accompanied by frequent urination.
Because MODY does not tend to experience symptoms, discovery of the condition’s presence is often a byproduct of testing for other health conditions. As part of prenatal care, a glucose tolerance test may be administered and reveal the presence of MODY. Routine screening of various nutrient levels in the body can also lead to the discovery of MODY.
In many cases, people diagnosed with MODY are able to manage the condition with a low-carb, nutrient-rich diet. Diet combined with regular exercise can help keep blood glucose levels healthy. In some cases, exercise and diet may be augmented with the use of oral agents to aid in glycemic control. Rarely does a person with MODY need insulin injections unless the condition progresses to full-blown diabetes, although this may be the case with MODY 1 or 3.
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