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

California made it news for a disease that has no vaccination. This is the human metapneumovirus or the HMPV. While some of the symptoms of this virus are similar to that of any common cold or influenza like cough, fever, nasal congestion or shortness of breath, there are several symptoms that are unique to the disease.

Unique Symptoms Of HMPV - The Virus Without Vaccine

Unlike mild common colds, HMPV often presents with a high-grade fever, particularly in children. Some of the other symptoms also include persistent coughing, including dry or productive and may persist for a long duration.

Furthermore, it could cause wheezing, difficulty in breathing, which could also lead to severe lower respiratory tract illness like bronchiolitis or pneumonia. In children and older adults, it could also cause severe or often fatal bronchiolitis or rapid-onset pneumonia.

In infants, it could also exhibit irritability, poor feeding, or dehydration.

Other symptoms, which could resemble common cold like symptoms are:

• cough
• fever
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body ache
• headache

What Is Happening In California?

As per the public database WasterwaterScan Dashboard, high levels of HMPV were detected across Northern California cities. The highest levels were reported in Redwood City, whereas elevated levels were found in San Francisco Bay Area and Napa's Wine Country. What's more dangerous is that this virus is without a vaccine.

The good news is that in other parts of country HMPV remains lower. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that data from October 2025 shows the cases are trending up, especially during winter and spring.

Read: Virus Without Vaccine Hits California; No Need To Worry, Say Public Health Officials

Dr. Matthew Binnicker, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, as reported by The Independent said, "In the late winter, early spring, it can account for five percent to 10 percent of all the respiratory infections that we diagnose in the United States. So it's definitely out there." Experts explain that other viruses like HMPV or influenza get a chance when COVID is quieter.

What Is HMPV - The Virus Without Vaccine?

HMPV was first discovered in 2001 and is part of the Pneumoviridae family along with the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

HMPV most likely spreads from an infected person to others through:

• the air by coughing and sneezing
• close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching objects or surfaces that have the viruses on them, then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes

In the US, HMPV circulates in predictable patterns each year, typically beginning in winter and lasting through spring.

Who Are At Risk Of HMPV?

People at risk include:

• elderly people
• children
• people with comorbidities

"The HMPV is not deadly, and there is no evidence of mortality or a severe transmission rate," former Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientist, Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, told IANS, during the virus's outbreak in India in 2025.

“The virus may cause pneumonitis-like illness, but the mortality rates are almost unknown so far. HMPV has a global prevalence of about 4 per cent,” he added.

Smoking has been long recognized as one of the worst habits a person can have, and Dr Jeremy London agrees with this statement. Dr. London, a cardiovascular surgeon, in a recent interview with Mel Robbins revealed that his number one advice as a heart doctor is to avoid smoking.

“I cannot come up with one single thing that does as much damage to every organ in the body as smoking cigarettes. And look, it's incredibly addictive and I know that and I pass no judgment because I know how difficult it is.”

He explained that in his practice he has dealt with chronic smokers for years and still believed that it is the single most dangerous thing one can do to themselves.

Also Read: Why Is It Harder For Women To Quit Smoking?

How Does Smoking Affect Other Organs?

Emphasizing how this one habit affects all organs in our body, Dr London mentioned the well-known link between lung cancer and smoking.

However, there are many more chronic diseases associated with the rest of the body that can develop due to smoking apart from lung conditions, according to the American Lung Association.

Here is what you should keep an eye out for:

Heart Disease

Also Read: 3 Science-Backed Methods To Quit Smoking For Good

Asthma

Reproductive Health

Vision Loss

Lung Cancer

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all cases. Although medical treatments have improved, the five-year survival rate remains low. Quitting is the most effective way to lower your risk of this deadly disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Other Cancers

Fasting for three hours before bed can significantly improve heart health and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as other chronic conditions, an Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology study suggests.

While many believe that diet plans such as intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating can help reduce their weight, researchers at Northwestern University have found that not eating three hours before going to sleep can reduce overnight blood pressure by nearly four percent, heart rate by five percent and strengthen overall heart rhythms.

This can help reduce overall strain on the heart which lowers risks for conditions like hypertension and CAD. Additionally, the scientists also discovered a drop in blood sugar levels, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Participants who underwent glucose tests also showed better insulin release which tend to stabilize during the day. Additionally, an improved heart rate also lowered nighttime cortisol, which helped in metabolic balance.

Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine and chief of sleep medicine in the department of neurology at Feinberg and corresponding author said of the results: "It's not only how much and what you eat, but also when you eat relative to sleep that is important for the physiological benefits of time-restricted eating."

The study authors also noted: "Extending overnight fasting duration by three hours in alignment with sleep improved cardiometabolic health in middle-aged/older adults by strengthening coordination between circadian- and sleep-regulated autonomic and metabolic activity.

"This sleep-aligned time-restricted eating approach represents a novel, accessible lifestyle intervention with promising potential for improving cardiometabolic function."

Coronary Artery Disease: The Silent Killer

Despite being as a common heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) develops over years and has no clear signs and symptoms apart from a heart attack. The illness begins due to a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances known as plaque in and on the artery walls.

Over time, this can cause narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries and block the supply of oxygen-rich blood to heart which can lead chest pain (angina), shortness of breath and ultimately, heart attacks.

Typically, those above the age of 45, having a biological family member with heart disease, lack of sleep, smoking, consuming saturated fats along with other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing CAD.

Treatment options may include medicines and surgery. Eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise and not smoking can help also prevent CAD and the conditions that can cause it.

Nearly one in 10 Indian adults suffer from CAD and about two million people die from the disease annually. Apart from this, about 18 to 20 million American adults aged 20 and older are also affected about the disease.

Strokes: A Rising Crisis In India

One in seven stroke patients in India are young adults aged below 45 years, with hypertension leading as the major risk factor, according to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 identified hypertension, air pollution, tobacco smoking, high cholesterol, increased salt intake, and diabetes as the leading risk factors of stroke.

Incidence of stroke is increasing significantly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in India, due to population growth, aging, and greater exposure to risk factors.