Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) is a rare form of diabetes, different from both Type 1 and Type 2 and runs predominantly through families. Typically, it affects between one and two per cent of people diagnosed with diabetes. Because this type of diabetes is rare, there is occasion when it is initially mistakenly diagnosed as either Type 1 or Type 2. Most forms of MODY carry a risk of severe complications if not managed correctly from the outset.
MODY is a genetic form of diabetes that affects the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Most often, it occurs before the age of 25 and runs in families and there is estimated to be a 50 per cent chance of a parent with MODY passing it on to a child.
At the present time in Jersey, those individuals who may be at risk of having this form of diabetes are not, because of a lack of funding, automatically offered a genetic test by the Diabetes Service. At this time, there is an estimated number of 50 people who might benefit from undertaking such a test. Each test costs in the region of £1,000. Diabetes Jersey has now offered Health and Community Services (HCS) the necessary funding to resolve this issue, and to continue to provide it until the beginning of 2026, at which time, HCS would provide the necessary funds to the Diabetes Service to continue this programme.