Suspect MODY?Start with an expert who specialises in monogenic diabetes

Yes. In a 2026 China National Radio report, Professor Limei Liu was quoted as saying that more than 90% of MODY cases in China are misdiagnosed or treated inappropriately. In Professor Liu's first-author Chinese GCK-MODY study in Metabolism, 47 of 55 patients (85.4%) had been clinically misclassified before genetic diagnosis. In a separate nationwide cohort spanning 46 hospitals, traditional screening criteria would have failed to identify 34 of 42 genetically confirmed MODY cases (81.0%). These figures measure different outcomes, but they point to the same concern: a type 1 or type 2 label does not guarantee that the underlying cause and subtype are correct. Reassessment should be considered when family history, islet-autoantibody results, C-peptide, clinical course or treatment response does not fit the existing diagnosis.

Not necessarily, but they warrant careful evaluation. Assessing possible MODY requires considering age at diagnosis, family history, islet autoantibodies, C-peptide, disease course and, when appropriate, genetic testing together. When several clues are present, the most useful next step is reassessment by a clinician with extensive expertise in monogenic diabetes.

A negative result does not automatically exclude MODY. The genes and regions covered, assay limitations and evolving variant interpretation can all affect the result. An experienced team should interpret it alongside the patient's phenotype and family history.

Once a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant is identified, a specialist can advise which relatives should be offered targeted testing or clinical assessment based on the inheritance pattern, age and clinical features—rather than testing everyone indiscriminately.

GCK-MODY can be misclassified as gestational diabetes mellitus. Because management priorities for mother and fetus can differ, persistent mild fasting hyperglycaemia during pregnancy—or a similar pattern in relatives—should be discussed with a specialist experienced in monogenic diabetes.

You can still attend an appointment even if your records are incomplete. Previous diagnoses, test results and genetic reports are useful starting points, but they do not replace Professor Limei Liu's own clinical assessment. If an earlier conclusion does not fully explain your condition, Professor Liu will review your medical and family history and decide whether any investigations should be repeated or added.

Use the Second Hospital of Jilin University's official appointment page or official WeChat account. Search for 刘丽梅, then confirm the campus, clinic, date and available appointment slots. This page also links directly to the hospital's official booking channel.