Phenotyping

Important concept in modern medicine for personalized therapies

For people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, phenotyping involves a precise recording and analysis of the individual characteristics of the basic disorders - in order to develop a personalized treatment model tailored to the patient’s individual disease situation.

What is phenotyping?

Phenotyping generally means the detailed recording of externally visible and measurable characteristics (phenotypes) of a person or a clinical picture. It is important to characterize the individual phenotype for both type 1 and especially type 2 diabetes mellitus.

These characteristics result from the interaction of genetics (the genotype) and external influences (for example: lifestyle, diet, environmental factors).

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the patient’s own immune system. In this case, phenotyping differentiates between, for example, the speed of this destruction and the effects on the body.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, phenotyping refers to certain physical and biochemical characteristics that can vary with the disease. Examples include insulin production, insulin resistance, adipose tissue behavior or individual response to blood glucose fluctuations.

Why is phenotyping important in type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a complex and multifaceted disease that develops and progresses differently in different people.

The causes and disease characteristics often vary greatly, for example in relation to:

Beta cell function:
All people with type 2 diabetes have impaired function of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, affecting insulin production and secretion in terms of timing, amount and composition.

Insulin resistance:
In some patients, the tissue is highly insulin resistant, making the body’s own insulin less effective.

Adipose tissue activity and chronic inflammation:
Visceral fat (i.e. abdominal fat) plays a role in the development of insulin resistance and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory hormones.

These differences in the clinical picture mean that standardized treatment approaches are often not optimal as they do not take individual differences into account. This is where phenotyping comes into play to identify the specific characteristics of each patient and provide targeted treatment.

How is phenotyping carried out?

Phenotyping is based on a range of diagnostic methods to determine the individual diabetes profile.

This is done, among other things, by

Blood tests for insulin and proinsulin (insulin precursor):
These tests show how much finished insulin the pancreas is producing and whether there is any dysfunction of the beta cells.

Determination of insulin resistance:
There are tests such as the HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment) index, which calculates insulin resistance and helps to identify the extent of insulin insensitivity.

Biomarker analyses:
Specific biomarkers can be used to more precisely define the stage of basic disorders and the type of diabetes.

Genetic testing (in some cases):
Genetic markers can indicate predisposition risk for type 2 diabetes and other diabetes-related traits, as well as food intolerances, for example.

Physical characteristics and fat distribution:
Visceral fat in particular is studied, as it plays an important role in the development and maintenance of chronic inflammation in the body in many diabetes patients.

Advantages of phenotyping in diabetes treatment

Phenotyping makes it possible to develop individually tailored therapies for patients.

Instead of a standardized approach

insulin resistance can be addressed in a targeted manner, for example through appropriate medication or exercise.
early insulin therapy in patients with beta-cell dysfunction can help to slow the progression of the disease.
weight-based factors can be influenced by dietary advice or drugs such as GLP-1 analogs, which reinforce satiety signals and reduce weight.

Conclusion of the phenotyping

Phenotyping offers the opportunity to understand and treat both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes not as one and the same disease, but as multifaceted and different forms of diabetes. Different “subtypes” are specifically addressed. By knowing the specific biological and genetic characteristics of a patient, tailor-made therapies can be developed that not only improve blood sugar levels but also the basic mechanisms of the diseases, thereby helping to prevent secondary damage, for example.

Interested? Please contact us!

If you are curious about how our program can help you gain more quality of life and health, we cordially invite you to a non-binding consultation. Let’s take the first step towards individualized diabetes therapy together.