Lance Bass, a pop singer, has type 1.5 diabetes; here's what you need to know about the condition.

Lance Bass, a pop singer, revealed on social media that he has type 1.5 diabetes, also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).

A few years ago, he was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, as he wrote in an Instagram post.

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Bass then revealed what he referred to as a "plot twist."

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Planet Chronicle Digital reached out to Bass for comment.

What is type 1.5 diabetes?

Dr. Silvana Obici, head of the Division of Endocrinology at Stony Brook Medicine, explained to Planet Chronicle Digital via email that while LADA, like type 1 diabetes (T1DM), is an autoimmune disease, the decline in beta-cell function happens much more gradually in LADA compared to T1DM.

While the symptoms of type 1.5 diabetes overlap with those of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, there are also some notable distinctions.

According to Dr. Kevin Peterson, vice president of primary care for the ADA, who has not treated Bass, LADA and type 2 diabetes are less likely to cause increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, and weight loss compared to type 1 diabetes.

"Both conditions may have a gradual onset with symptoms such as fatigue, urinary tract infections, blurred vision, and mild problems that are sometimes overlooked."

Unlike type 2 diabetes, LADA is characterized by a gradual decline in insulin production that cannot be managed through diet and exercise alone, and may not respond to medications used to treat type 2 diabetes, Peterson stated.

Chance of misdiagnosis

Peterson stated that "the slow presentation with LADA often makes it challenging to differentiate between the two conditions, particularly during the early stages of diagnosis."

The type of diabetes can be identified through blood tests, he pointed out.

Dr. David Lam, an associate professor in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and bone diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, did not comment on Bass' case but agreed that type 1.5 diabetes can be misdiagnosed.

Over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, with approximately 10% of those having type 1.5.

He stated that the diagnosis is usually determined by factors from the individual's medical background, including an early onset of diabetes, a lower body mass index, or a family or personal history of other autoimmune disorders.

Treatment and intervention

While LADA exhibits some symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, medical professionals pointed out that its treatment approach differs.

According to Lam, in the early stages of type 1.5 diabetes, the pancreas may still produce enough insulin, resulting in only slight glucose irregularities.

Type 1.5 diabetes presents unique challenges in treatment because it progresses at varying rates for each individual and is difficult to predict, according to Lam.

The severity of beta cells' deficiency will determine the specific medications for the disease, according to Obici.

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According to Obici, all types of diabetes require dietary intervention.

"In T2DM, diet and lifestyle modifications aim to achieve not only glycemic control but also weight loss."

At least one case of type 1.5 diabetes is seen every month in Dr. Brian Burtch's endocrinology practice at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, even though he was not involved in Bass' care.

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It is crucial for physicians to always take this diagnosis into account when treating diabetes patients, he emphasized.