A National Monogenic Diabetes Study Group has been formed to identify cases of monogenic diabetes across the country. Supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre (DMDSC) will be the national coordinating centre for the study group.
Genetic mutation
Monogenic diabetes is a group of disorders where mutation of a single gene causes diabetes; the three commonest forms being - Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus (NDM) and Congenital Hypoglycaemia, according to V. Mohan, chairman, DMDSC.
“ICMR already has a young diabetics registry. As an off-shoot, a National Monogenic Diabetes Study Group has been formed with MDRF as the nodal centre. As of now, 33 doctors from across the country are ready to collaborate for this initiative,” he told reporters on Saturday.
Under this initiative, MDRF would provide guidelines to the collaborators for identifying monogenic diabetes. “They need to look out for certain parameters such as children below six months of age and those diagnosed as Type 1 diabetes but have atypical features such as milder forms of diabetes, and strong family history of diabetes going through several generations,” he explained.
The collaborators will identify cases of monogenic diabetes and send their details.
“They will send blood samples to us. Following the test results, we will give them the treatment protocols,” Dr. Mohan said.
Published - November 10, 2018 09:43 pm IST
