In one embodiment, a method for minimizing latency of a query load on a database system by accessing data using an adaptive B-tree index structure comprising a plurality of nodes includes determining one or more characteristics of the query load that are associated with one or more queries received by the database system, determining, for each of the plurality of nodes of the adaptive B-tree index structure, whether to convert the node to a read-optimized node or a write-optimized node based on the one or more characteristics of the query load, and converting at least one of the plurality of nodes to a read-optimized node or a write-optimized node based on the one or more characteristics of the query load.