Researchers say diabetes should be split into five types

New York residents who have diabetes were probably diagnosed with the disease categorized as either Type I or Type II. The classification of diabetes into these two groups is based on various factors, but now researchers say that the disease is too complex to be split into just two groups. According to a study that was published online on March 1, there should be five types of diabetes recognized.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from five separate groups of adults who were newly diagnosed with diabetes. The groupings were based on variables including age at the time of diagnosis, body mass index and resistance to insulin. Of the five types of diabetes identified, researchers labeled three as severe.

The researchers concluded that distinguishing five different types of diabetes rather than the current two could help doctors to more accurately treat the disease. What could be most important is that it could also help to identify diabetes patients who are most likely to develop complications, which would allow doctors to offer these patients preventive treatment. A tool is currently being developed that would help to assign patients to the correct diabetes subgroup. But one researcher says that he doesn't think the actual practice of classifying diabetes will change from the current two-group standard until more research is done.

Part of a doctor's treatment of a diabetic patient is to educate the patient about the disease and its treatment. A misdiagnosis could result in a worsened medical condition. People who have been harmed in this manner may want to discuss their situations with a medical malpractice attorney.