diabetes in children
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TMEM167A Diabetes: In recent years, cases of diabetes have not been limited to the elderly and young people, but are now being seen in children as well. In this context, scientists from England have identified a new and rare type of diabetes, which is found especially in children less than six months of age. The cause of this disease is mutation in a gene called TMEM167A.
This diabetes, caused by mutation in the TMEM167A gene, is different from types 1, 2 and 3. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immunity destroys the insulin-producing cells, whereas in type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to use insulin properly. Type 3 diabetes is a rare form that is related to brain development. On the contrary, Diabetes caused by TMEM167A mutation In this, the insulin producing cells are not able to do their work properly, due to which the blood sugar level increases.
What happens due to diabetes named TMEM167A found in children?
In diabetes caused by TMEM167A mutation, children may experience symptoms like excessive thirst, weight loss, fatigue and increased blood sugar. Apart from this, children affected by this disease may also have neurological problems like obstruction in brain development, such as microcephaly i.e. head size being smaller than normal and epilepsy. This condition may be lifelong or resolve after a few months, but sometimes it may recur later.
Diagnosis and treatment
There is currently no permanent treatment available for this disease, but blood sugar levels can be controlled with insulin therapy. This disease can be diagnosed using gene testing and stem cell models.