T1D Myths That Delay Diagnosis
In this video, PA Ashlyn Smith breaks down common myths that can delay accurate diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. She explains that T1D diagnosis often occurs in adults, how slower disease progression can lead to misdiagnosis as type 2 diabetes, and why C-peptide alone is not a reliable diagnostic tool.
PA Smith also discusses latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) and dispels the misconception that family history is required for T1D, setting the stage for how proper screening and staging can improve early detection and care.
Key Takeaways:
- T1D can present in adults as well as children but the progression of disease tends to be slower in adults.
- C-peptide is non-specific in diagnosing diabetes type.
- While there is a genetic element to T1D, up to 90% of cases occur in those with no family history.
Speaker
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References and Additional Resources:
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes: standards of care in diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;(48)(Suppl 1):S27-S49. https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/48/Supplement_1/S27/157566/2-Diagnosis-and-Classification-of-Diabetes
Cleveland Clinic. Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA). Updated October, 2024. Accessed February, 2026. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/lada-diabetes
Leighton E, Sainsbury CAR, Jones GC. A Practical Review of C-peptide Testing in Diabetes. Diabetes Ther. 2017:8(3):475-487. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5446389/
Rogers M, Kim C, Banerjee T, et al. Fluctuations in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in the United States from 2001 to 2015: a longitudinal study. BMC Med. 2017;15(1):199. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29115947/
Sims EK, Besser REJ, Dayan C, et al. Screening for type 1 diabetes in the general population: a status report and perspective. Diabetes. 2022:71(4):610-623. https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/71/4/610/144874/Screening-for-Type-1-Diabetes-in-the-General
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