This finding opens the door to a more precise classification of the disease, which could facilitate the personalization of patient follow-up and treatment from the early stages. This is according to the study coordinator, Dr. Dídac Mauricio, scientific director of the Diabetes area at the Ciber research center.

The research analyzed 991 individuals with type 2 diabetes recruited between 2022 and 2026 across 28 centers in Lleida and Barcelona, as part of the prospective Copernican study. The results suggest that type 2 diabetes could be better classified into four main groups, with significant implications for patient evaluation and classification.

The study revealed notable differences between the disease subtypes found in Mediterranean populations compared to those previously described in Scandinavian populations. In addition to the group with autoimmune diabetes, three additional subgroups were identified: one related to obesity and insulin resistance, another with insulin deficiency, and a third linked to age.