[Geoff]

Hi all I thought this may be of interest to this discussion, it is taken from a new book on type 1 diabetes "Type 1 Diabetes in Adults" 2008

"Soon after the demonstration of ICAs in type 1 diabetes, in a study by Irvine et al. itwas
stated that∼11% of patientswith type 2 diabetes were also positive for ICAs (17); compared
to ICA− type 2 diabetic patients, this ICA+ subset of type 2 diabetic patients tended to fail
sulfonylurea therapy and needed insulin treatment earlier (17). Subsequently, several other
investigators have also identified a similar subset of phenotypic type 2 diabetic patients
who are positive for the antibodies commonly found in type 1 diabetes; this subset has been
variously termed—latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), type 1.5 diabetes, slowly
progressive IDDM, latent type 1 diabetes, youth-onset diabetes of maturity, latent-onset
type 1 diabetes, “double” diabetes, and antibody-positive non–insulin-dependent diabetes
(14,18–20). Although the different names have caused some confusion, the finding of this
subset of phenotypic type 2 diabetic patients by many different investigators rather than
just one or two groups confirms their existence as an important subset of diabetes."