Monogenic Diabetes in Youth With Presumed Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the Progress in Diabetes Genetics in Youth (ProDiGY) Collaboration

OBJECTIVE Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is frequently misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Correct diagnosis may result in a change in clinical treatment and impacts prediction of complications and familial risk. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of MODY in multiethnic youth under age 20 years with a clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We evaluated whole-exome sequence data of youth with a clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. We considered participants to have MODY if they carried a MODY gene variant classified as likely pathogenic (LP) or pathogenic (P) according to current guidelines. RESULTS Of 3,333 participants, 93 (2.8%) carried an LP/P variant in HNF4A (16 participants), GCK (23), HNF1A (44), PDX1 (5), INS (4), and CEL (1). Compared with those with no LP/P variants, youth with MODY had a younger age at diagnosis (12.9 +/- 2.5 vs. 13.6 +/- 2.3 years, P = 0.002) and lower fasting C-peptide levels (3.0 +/- 1.7 vs. 4.7 +/- 3.5 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). Youth with MODY were less likely to have hypertension (6.9% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.007) and had higher HDL cholesterol (43.8 vs. 39.7 mg/dL, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS By comprehensively sequencing the coding regions of all MODY genes, we identified MODY in 2.8% of youth with clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes; importantly, in 89% (n = 83) the specific diagnosis would have changed clinical management. No clinical criterion reliably separated the two groups. New tools are needed to find ideal criteria for selection of individuals for genetic testing.

Automated summary

This study found a prevalence of 2.8% of MODY in youth clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Youth with MODY had a younger age at diagnosis, lower fasting C-peptide levels, lower likelihood of hypertension, and higher HDL cholesterol compared to those without MODY. The specific diagnosis of MODY would have changed clinical management in 89% of cases.