Theocharis Koufakis, Prashanth Vas, Kalliopi Kotsa 

Background: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is characterised by pathophysiological and clinical heterogeneity. Hence, the optimal treatment strategy for this type of diabetes remains a clinical challenge.

Aim: To discuss the potential of a modern therapeutic approach for LADA in the context of the novel findings of cardiovascular outcomes trials and stress the controversies surrounding LADA and the barriers in the effective management of people with this type of diabetes.

Methods: We performed a literature search in major biomedical databases in order to retrieve relevant literature. The results of key studies, along with the authors' clinical experience and perspective, are summarised and discussed in this narrative, mini review article.

Results: Insulin remains the primary treatment choice in individuals with low C-peptide levels. Although cardiovascular outcomes trials have mainly recruited participants with type 2 diabetes, recent data suggest that the cardiorenal protective properties of the new therapies are even present in people without diabetes and thus, the extrapolation of their results on LADA individuals sounds reasonable. Therefore, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists should be considered for the management of people with preserved insulin production being at high cardiovascular risk. The risk of diabetic ketoacidosis with SGLT2is requires increased vigilance by treating physicians.

Conclusions: Individualisation, preservation of beta-cell mass and function and cardiorenal protection are the new challenges in LADA therapy.