
Maturity onset diabetes of the young” (MODY)
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Why it is in news?
- MODY is a rare form of diabetes which is different from both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and runs strongly in families.
- MODY is caused by a mutation (or change) in a single gene. If a parent has this gene mutation, any child they have, has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting it from them.
- If a child does inherit the mutation they will generally go on to develop MODY before they’re 25, whatever their weight, lifestyle, ethnic group etc.
Cause and Treatment
- Diabetes involves a disruption of how blood sugar is kept in check by the hormone insulin.
- In Type-2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the disorder, many genes and environmental factors combine to cause this disruption.
- In MODY, any one of the 14 genes, if defective, can hamper the body’s insulin usage and trigger Type-2 diabetes.
- Some forms of MODY can easily be treated with sulphonylurea, an inexpensive drug
Source
The Hindu