Diabetes is no longer limited to older adults. Today, young people are increasingly at risk and may face equally serious health threats. One form of diabetes that begins in young adulthood is Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young, commonly known as MODY.
An internist at Universitas Gadjah Mada Academic Hospital (RSA UGM), Ali Baswedan, explained that MODY is a form of diabetes caused by genetic mutations in genes that regulate insulin production.
Unlike type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which is considered rare, Baswedan noted that MODY has several distinctive characteristics.
First, this condition does not involve autoantibodies, which are typically found in type 1 diabetes.
Second, it is not associated with obesity, lifestyle factors, or insulin resistance as seen in type 2 diabetes.
“This disease appears at a young age, usually before 25-35 years old, with a strong hereditary pattern. Therefore, genetic factors are the primary cause of MODY,” he explained in an interview on Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2025).
This condition was first described by RB Tattersall of the United Kingdom and Stefan S. Fajans of the United States, who published their findings in the journal Diabetologia in 1975.
Baswedan stated that the leading cause of MODY is a genetic mutation inherited from one or both parents.
Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and obesity do influence blood sugar levels, but they are not the cause of MODY.
“If one parent carries the MODY gene, the child has about a 50 percent risk. This means the child is likely to develop the same type of diabetes, although the severity may differ,” said Baswedan.
Because genetic factors cause MODY, the condition cannot be prevented.
However, Baswedan explained that its occurrence could be reduced through pre-marital genetic screening. Unfortunately, such measures are still uncommon and relatively costly.
“For those who have parents or family members with any type of diabetes, it is advisable to adopt a balanced diet and exercise regularly to minimize increases in blood sugar levels,” he advised.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Illustration: Freepik