Latent autoimmune diabetes amongst adults with type 2 diabetes in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Abstract Aims The aim was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of persons with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) amongst patients who had been clinically diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus (CT2DM) in a tertiary care centre. Methodology One hundred and sixty patients with CT2DM participated in this cross-sectional study following selection by systematic random sampling. Demographic data, relevant clinical history and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference) were taken and blood samples were obtained for analysis of fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA). The results were analysed using SPSS version 16. Results Nineteen (11.9%) out of 160 persons with CT2DM were positive for GADA. 95(59.4%) of the total study population were females. The mean (SD) age, BMI, waist circumference, were 60.49 (10.37) years, 26.47 (4.80) kg/m 2 , 92.16 (11.50) cm respectively. Subjects with CT2DM who were GADA positive had trend towards lower mean BMI (25.64 kg/m 2 vs. 26.59 kg/m 2 ) and waist circumference (89.80 kg/m 2 vs. 92.47 kg/m 2 ) than GADA negative subjects. GADA positive subjects also had a trend showing higher mean fasting blood glucose (144 mg/dl vs. 125 mg/dl, t  = 2.20, p  = 0.14), higher mean HbA1c (7% vs. 6.1%, t  = 3.19, p  = 0.077) and a higher proportion on insulin (31.6% vs. 22%, χ 2  = 0.07, p  = 0.25) when compared with GADA negative patients. Conclusion The prevalence of LADA amongst a subset of Nigerians with CT2DM was 11.9%. There were no distinguishing clinical features to help characterize persons with LADA. The above finding emphasizes the importance of GADA testing for appropriate classification of persons with CT2DM. Early diagnosis of LADA would help direct appropriate therapy to optimize glycaemic control.