Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slow progressing form of autoimmune diabetes. Like type 1 diabetes, LADA occurs because your pancreas stops producing adequate insulin, most likely from some insult that slowly damages the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.But unlike type 1 diabetes, with LADA, you often won't need insulin for several months up to years after you've been diagnosed.ike type 1 diabetes, LADA occurs because your pancreas stops producing adequate insulin, most likely from some insult that slowly damages the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.