Scientists Find a Rare New Type of Diabetes in Newborns — What It Means for Families and Research
- Rebecca Guldberg
- Dec 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Researchers have just discovered a rare form of diabetes that affects newborn babies — and it’s giving scientists new clues about how insulin works in the body. This breakthrough helps us not only learn more about diabetes in infants, but also understand how insulin production works for everyone.
What Did Scientists Find?
In a new study, scientists working together from several countries learned that changes in a gene called TMEM167A can cause diabetes in some babies. This gene is important for the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, the hormone that helps control blood sugar.
When TMEM167A doesn’t work the right way, the insulin-producing cells (called beta cells) can’t do their job. Instead of making insulin, these cells become stressed and eventually die. Without enough insulin, a baby’s blood sugar can become too high — leading to diabetes.
How Rare Is This Type of Diabetes?
This form of diabetes shows up in babies younger than six months old, which is extremely uncommon. Most diabetes — like type 1 or type 2 — happens later in life. But scientists now know that this rare type only shows up in newborns and is linked directly to the baby’s genes.
In the research that led to this discovery, scientists studied six children who had not only diabetes, but also other health issues like epilepsy (a condition that causes seizures) and microcephaly (a smaller-than-normal head size). All six shared changes in the TMEM167A gene.
Why Is This Important?
There are a few big reasons this discovery matters:
Better diagnosis: Doctors may now be able to test babies with early-onset diabetes for this specific gene change, helping them figure out the right treatment sooner.
New research clues: Learning how TMEM167A works gives scientists a better picture of how insulin-producing cells develop and stay healthy — and what goes wrong when they don’t.
Broader impact: Even though this type of diabetes is rare, understanding it might help researchers learn more about other forms of diabetes too. (SciTechDaily)
What Comes Next?
Scientists hope to use this discovery to explore new treatments and learn more about how early life biology affects diabetes later on. These results contribute to a better understanding of the crucial steps involved in insulin production and could shed light on research into other forms of diabetes, a disease which today affects almost 589 million people worldwide.
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This content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about any questions or concerns regarding your health or treatment options.
