Diabetic diseases have long been classified as either type 1 or type 2, but the new research conducted in Scandinavia now indicates that such classification is over-simplistic. Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, this study reveals five distinct subtypes of diabetes and opens doors for more nuanced and personalized treatment strategies.

Simply, diabetes is when the glucose present in the blood is too high because of impaired functioning of insulin- a hormone in charge of regulation of glucose in the body. Type 1 diabetes occurs after the immune system attacks cells which produce insulin inside the pancreas, leading to a complete inability to produce this essential hormone. It most often presents with symptoms at young age and needs continuous insulin therapy.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is characterized by insulin resistance, where the body produces insulin but does not use it effectively. This type is generally linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and genetics and often manifests in adulthood. While these classifications have guided treatment for decades, the new research divides diabetes into five distinct clusters, each with unique characteristics, risks, and management needs.

5 Cluster of Diabetes

1. Severe Autoimmune Diabetes (SAID)

This form of diabetes is very similar to the original concept of type 1 diabetes. This subtype is due to an autoimmune attack that destroys beta cells responsible for insulin production, leaving the body incapable of producing insulin. It usually occurs in younger people and necessitates tight blood sugar control and insulin therapy.

2. Severe Insulin-Deficient Diabetes (SIDD)

The other extreme type, but not autoimmune, is SIDD. This condition generally affects younger, nonobese people whose bodies do not produce enough insulin because the beta cells are damaged. Individuals diagnosed with SIDD are at the highest risk for complications, including blindness. Generally, treatment consists of insulin therapy, possibly combined with other orally taken medication.

3. Severe Insulin-Resistant Diabetes (SIRD)

SIRD is characterized by a significant resistance to insulin, often linked to obesity. People with SIRD struggle to use the insulin their body produces, resulting in poor blood sugar control. This subtype is associated with a higher risk of kidney disease, and current treatment options are less effective, emphasizing the need for new approaches to manage this group.

4. Mild Obesity-Related Diabetes (MOD)

This presents as a milder form of diabetes associated with obesity. Although these patients have some degree of insulin resistance, this is not as marked as it is in SIRD. Lifestyle interventions including weight loss and physical activity are particularly important in managing MOD, combined with conventional medications for diabetes.

5. Mild Age-Related Diabetes (MARD)

The most prevalent subtype, typically occurring in the elderly. It is less severe than other forms of diabetes, with fewer major complications. Lifestyle changes and oral medications, such as metformin, often are used to keep blood glucose levels within normal limits.

Also Read: What Is Type 3 Diabetes? Insulin Resistance In The Brain That Could Trigger Alzheimer’s

What This Means for Diabetes Management

These five subtypes show that diabetes is complex, and one treatment fits all may not be applicable. In type 2 diabetes, metformin is currently the first drug prescribed to the majority of patients, and then other drugs are added if required. It might not be appropriate for all people, particularly for subgroups such as SIRD, who require more intensive therapies on insulin resistance.

Identifying these subtypes will also enable clinicians to direct appropriate treatments based on the specific risk profiles. For example, those classified as SIDD should have an earlier screen and preventive interventions to avoid blindness. In turn, SIRD may require specific interventions for renal protection.

This study represents a step forward, but it also opens up new questions. Researchers are exploring whether factors such as genetic markers or blood pressure measurements could further refine these subtypes. Furthermore, it is unclear whether a patient's classification might change over time, and so treatment plans need to be flexible and adaptive.

Therefore, findings in this field do not herald a need to completely change the type 1 and type 2 diabetes scheme currently in practice; they rather work as a guideline to develop individualized, high-precision and successful treatment systems in the years to come for the millions dealing with diabetes in today's times.

Diabetes is no longer just about type 1 or type 2. Five distinct subtypes have been identified, and the chronic condition's complexity has now opened the door to a new era of personalized care.

Novel subgroups of adult-onset diabetes and their association with outcomes: a data-driven cluster analysis of six variables. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinologyl. 2018

Receiving a vaccine booster in the same arm as the first dose triggers a faster and stronger immune response and helps the body build protection faster, a new study from Australian scientists has revealed. The findings could help improve vaccine strategies and may eventually lead to vaccines that need fewer boosters. The study was published in the journal Cell and finds that the immune system responds more quickly when both doses are given in the same arm.

Why Will It Work?

Researchers discovered this effect first in mice, then confirmed it in a clinical study involving 30 people who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Those who had both doses in the same arm developed faster and more effective protection, especially against COVID-19 variants like Delta and Omicron. While both groups ended up with similar antibody levels after four weeks, the same-arm group gained protection more quickly, a potential game-changer during pandemic outbreaks.

"If you've had your COVID jabs in different arms, don't worry, our research shows that over time the difference in protection diminishes," said the study's co-senior author, Mee Ling Munier from the Kirby Institute.

How Do Vaccines Work?

Microplastics pose a danger to the heart. While there is enough evidence to show that they clog arteries and exacerbate the risk of stroke, recent research has found that these teeny particles of plastic can trigger cardiovascular diseases. It is estimated that chemicals in plastic were linked to nearly 350,000 heart disease deaths across the world in 2018. Adding to that, is this study published in the journal eBioMedicine, which estimated that roughly 13 per cent of cardiovascular deaths among 55- to 64-year-olds worldwide that year could be attributed to phthalates.

Where Are Phthalates are esters of phthalic acids, which are added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. They are found in personal care products like shampoos and lotions as well as in food containers and packaging. It is also possible to injest them through food, absorb them through skin from products containing them or breathe them from dust.

Some studies have shown an association between phthalates and cardiovascular disease, but there isn’t strong evidence to show that the chemicals directly cause heart issues, said Sung Kyun Park, a professor of epidemiology and environmental sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. However, there is enough evidence that states that phthalates increase the risk of metabolic disorders like obesity and Type 2 diabetes, which can cause cardiovascular disease. One way phthalates may do this is by increasing oxidative stress—cell and tissue damage that happens when there are too many unstable molecules in the body—and by promoting inflammation.

Microplastics: Explained

Microplastics are extremely small particles—often less than five millimetres in size—created when larger pieces of plastic break down. They can enter the human body in multiple ways: through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and even skin contact. An even smaller subset, known as nanoplastics, measures under 1,000 nanometers and is completely invisible to the naked eye. Because of their minuscule size, these particles can infiltrate tissues, organs, and potentially disrupt biological functions.

One Simple Way To Mitigate Risk Of Microplastics

Amid growing concerns about microplastic contamination, especially in drinking water, scientists have been working on practical ways to mitigate exposure. In 2024, a research team from Guangzhou Medical Centre made a breakthrough. They discovered that a common household activity—boiling water—can significantly reduce microplastic content in tap water.

According to the team, combining boiling with basic filtration can remove up to 90% of nanoplastic and microplastic particles (NMPs) from household water. However, the method’s effectiveness varied depending on the type of water used. In areas where tap water contains higher mineral content, commonly referred to as "hard water," the technique proved especially efficient.

The secret lies in limescale. As hard water is heated, it forms limescale—a chalky white substance—which appears to create a sticky layer that traps microplastic fragments. Researchers found this natural process enhanced the removal of plastic particles from water, offering a practical and affordable solution for most households.

While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term health effects of microplastics, early evidence suggests they may be more dangerous than previously thought—especially for cardiovascular health.

Most people do not take neck pain seriously. While it is uncomfortable, people attribute it to lifestyle factors like incorrect sitting posture or looking at their phones for too long. However, extended periods of neck pain could be serious.

Most neck pains do not need to be treated as a serious medical threat, however there is an exception. Harvard Health Publishing explains that there's a rare problem worth knowing about: a tear in one of the blood vessels in your neck. Doctors call this cervical artery dissection. It doesn't happen very often – only to about two people out of every 100,000 each year. However, it's a leading cause of strokes in people younger than 50, which makes it important for awareness.

What Is Cervical Artery Tear?

In your neck, there are two sets of important blood vessels: the carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries. Together, these are called the cervical arteries, and they carry blood to your brain. A cervical artery dissection is when there's a tear in the inner lining of one of these blood vessels.

When a tear happens in a cervical artery, blood can leak in between the layers of the artery wall. This leaking blood can form a blood clot. This clot can either completely block the flow of blood through the artery or break off and travel to an artery in the brain. If either of these things happens, it can cause a stroke, which is a serious medical emergency.

Who Should Be Careful?

Cervical artery tears happen more often in younger adults for a couple of reasons. First, some people are born with weak connective tissue in their bodies, which can make their arteries more likely to tear. For these people, a tear in a neck artery is more likely to happen when they are younger. In older people, strokes are often caused by other things, like the arteries in the brain getting narrow because of fatty buildup. But it's still possible for older people to have cervical artery dissections. One study found that some people diagnosed with this problem were over 60.

The second, and maybe a bigger reason why these artery tears are more common in people under 50 is that younger adults are more likely to do activities that involve neck movements that can sometimes cause a tear. There have been reports of dissections happening after things like heavy weightlifting, dancing with a lot of head movements, and even yoga. If certain yoga poses, like a shoulder stand, aren't done correctly, they can bend the neck too far backwards.

You can also bend your neck too far back when you're getting your hair washed at the sink in a hair salon. Even though it doesn't happen very often, there's even a name for it: "beauty parlor stroke syndrome." To be safe, you can ask your hairdresser for a neck extension, which is a little cushion that supports your head so your neck doesn't have to bend so much.

Watch Out for Unusual Neck Pain

If you have a cervical artery dissection, the neck pain is often different from regular neck pain. It might feel strange, it doesn't go away, and it's often joined by a really bad headache. If the tear is in the carotid artery, the pain might spread along the side of your neck and up towards the outside corner of your eye.

If it's in the vertebral artery, it might feel like something sharp is stuck at the base of your skull. If you have this kind of pain, especially if you also have stroke symptoms like dizziness, seeing double, jerky eye movements, feeling unsteady when you walk, or slurred speech, it's important to get medical help right away.