What is the best treatment for LADA?
At diagnosis people with LADA have some of their own natural insulin. This means they do not have to use insulin (unlike many children with type 1 diabetes who are dependent on insulin and would not live long without injections of insulin). People in the UK who have LADA are given tablets until the tablets do not adequately control their blood sugars any more and then they are treated with insulin. In many cases, people can be treated with tablets for 6 years or more. If they are controlling their blood sugar well then it often preferable to the person to take tablets. However, there is some evidence that people treated with insulin earlier (before the tablets ‘fail’ to work anymore), maintain their own natural insulin for longer and have better control in the future. There are ongoing clinical trials in Wales, Italy and the USA to examine this question.
