Genetic testing should be considered in one or more of the following settings:
- Anyone diagnosed with diabetes at or under 12 months of age
- A diabetes patient who is part of a family with three or more consecutive generations affected by diabetes
- A diabetes patient with stable, mildly elevated blood sugars, often found incidentally during a routine check-up
- A “type 1″ diabetes patient who has negative blood testing for autoantibodies, typically done at the time of diabetes diagnosis (antibodies typically tested include one or more of the following: GAD65, islet cell or ICA, IA-2, insulin, ZnT8)
- A “type 1″ diabetes patient who generates a significant amount of insulin years beyond diagnosis (detectable blood levels of c-peptide, proinsulin, and/ or insulin)
- A “type 2″ diabetes patient who is normal weight or not significantly overweight and shows no signs of insulin resistance
- Diabetes paired with pancreatic insufficiency (the digestive role of the pancreas is impaired with symptoms such as diarrhea and gas)
- Individual or family history of diabetes paired with developmental kidney disease or abnormalities of the kidney (especially cysts). The urinary system and reproductive organs may also be abnormally formed.
