Separating myths
from facts about
type 1 diabetes
Finding reliable answers about early-stage autoimmune
type 1 diabetes doesn’t have to be stressful
If you’re worried about your chance of developing the condition, ask your doctor or nurse about a type 1 diabetes autoantibody blood test. Finding the condition as early as possible means you get a head start at managing it well.
Myth: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same
Fact: Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are different conditions
While both affect your blood glucose (sugar), they develop in different ways and need to be identified correctly by your healthcare team to ensure you receive the most appropriate care and treatment.1,2
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.3 Eventually, the body doesn’t have enough insulin to help move glucose out of the blood and into the cells that need it for energy. This leaves too much glucose building up in your bloodstream instead of fuelling your body.3
Type 2 diabetes develops differently. It’s most often linked to insulin resistance, which means the body’s cells no longer respond to insulin as well as they used to. When the cells stop responding, they can’t take in glucose for energy, leaving too much glucose circulating in your blood.4
Learn more about autoimmune type 1 diabetes
The exact causes of type 1 diabetes are complex, but genetics can play a role. If your parent, sibling, or child has it, your likelihood of type 1 diabetes may increase by 15 times compared to the general population.5 But genetics aren’t the whole story. In fact, 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have no family history of the condition at all.6
Find out more on what may increase your chances of developing autoimmune type 1 diabetes
Whether type 1 diabetes runs in your family or not, getting answers is easier than you might think. This website helps you easily navigate the screening process for early-stage type 1 diabetes.
Myth: Type 1 diabetes can be reversed
Fact: Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed
When people think of ‘reversing diabetes’, they are thinking of type 2 diabetes, which can sometimes be reversed through lifestyle changes.7 Type 1 diabetes is different because it is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. This means that while eating well and staying active are great for your overall health, they do not stop or reverse type 1 diabetes.
Also, having one autoimmune condition, such as coeliac disease or autoimmune thyroiditis, can sometimes increase your chances of developing others.8
If you or someone in your family already has an autoimmune condition, it’s a great idea to ask your doctor or nurse about a type 1 diabetes autoantibody testing. This quick finger-prick or blood test can give you clear answers and help get you on the right path for care and support.
Myth: I live a healthy lifestyle and I’m not overweight so I can’t get type 1 diabetes
Fact: The idea that type 1 diabetes is caused by poor diet or lack of exercise is completely false1,9
The truth is that autoimmune type 1 diabetes is brought on by a mix of genetics and/or environmental triggers, so it has nothing to do with your diet or lifestyle.1,10 And, while there is no way to prevent the condition from developing, finding it early gives you more time to understand the test results and avoid becoming very unwell in the future.
Curious about your likelihood for type 1 diabetes? It only takes a quick finger-prick or blood screening to check for early-stage type 1 diabetes autoantibodies.
Myth: Type 1 diabetes develops suddenly, so I would know if I have it
Fact: Type 1 diabetes develops gradually, in stages
Autoimmune type 1 diabetes doesn’t just happen, it actually develops gradually. Because the early stages are “silent” and don’t cause any noticeable symptoms, it’s very common to live with the condition for a while before you even notice it.6 In fact, at stage 2 type 1 diabetes it can take around 17 months for adults, and 23 months for children to go from having no symptoms to noticing that something has changed.11
All too often, type 1 diabetes isn’t detected until it has reached a later stage (Stage 3) and symptoms have started to appear. If left untreated for too long, low insulin levels can cause a serious medical complication known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which requires hospitalisation and can cause long-term problems for the body and brain.12-14 By finding out if you have type 1 diabetes as early as possible, you can take action to lower your risk of facing these serious health problems.12
Find out more on what may increase your chances of developing type 1 diabetes
Without a treatment plan in place, type 1 diabetes will continue to attack the body’s insulin-making cells. Eventually, the attacks destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t produce enough insulin needed to manage blood glucose (sugar) levels.3
Detecting early-stage type 1 diabetes through a quick finger-prick or blood test gives you an advantage, as it gives you time to learn how to manage your condition before symptoms appear and avoid the shock of a sudden, unexpected diagnosis of late-stage (Stage 3) type 1 diabetes.
Myth: Only children can get type 1 diabetes
Fact: Both adults and children can develop type 1 diabetes
While it was once thought to only affect children, many people are adults by the time they have their autoimmune type 1 diabetes detected.15,16 Believe it or not, up to 3 in 5 (62%) of new cases are found in adults.16 That’s why it’s so important to get screened for type 1 diabetes autoantibodies whatever your age. If your child has type 1 diabetes, it’s a good idea to chat with your doctor about getting screened yourself, as the chance for type 1 diabetes is up to 15 times higher if a close family member already has the condition, compared with families who don’t have type 1 diabetes.17-19
Myth: Insulin is a cure for type 1 diabetes
Fact: Type 1 diabetes can only be managed with insulin, not cured
While insulin is a life-saving treatment for people with symptoms in Stage 3 autoimmune type 1 diabetes, there isn’t a cure just yet.20 Think of it this way: insulin is an essential treatment to help you manage your blood glucose (sugar) day-to-day, but it doesn’t address the underlying autoimmune reaction.20
Because type 1 diabetes is a lifelong journey, managing it will become a normal part of your everyday routine.2 Finding it early can give you time to learn about the condition, ease into a treatment plan that fits around your life, and build a strong support system with your healthcare team and beyond.19, 21-23
Reach out to your doctor or nurse to chat about autoantibody testing. A simple finger-prick or blood test can check for autoantibodies and get you started on the right path for care.
References
- Breakthrough T1D. Type 1 diabetes vs. type 2 diabetes. Accessed September, 2026. https://www.breakthrought1d.org/news-and-updates/type-1-diabetes-vs-type-2-diabetes/
- Chiang JL, Kirkman MS, Laffel LM, et al. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(7):2034-2054.
- US Centers For Disease and Control and Prevention. Type 1 diabetes. Accessed September, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-1-diabetes.html
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin resistance and prediabetes. Accessed September, 2026. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance
- Breakthrough T1D. Who is at risk for type 1 diabetes? Accessed September 2026. https://www.breakthrought1d.org/news-and-updates/who-is-at-risk-for-type-1-diabetes
- Sims EK, Besser REJ, Dayan C, et al. Diabetes. 2022;71(4):610-623.
- Breakthrough T1D. Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions. Accessed September 2026. https://breakthrought1d.org.uk/knowledge-support/guide-to-type-1-complications/type-1-diabetes-and-other-autoimmune-conditions/
- Taheri S. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(1):47-49.
- Breakthrough T1D. Fact-checking myths and misconceptions about type 1 diabetes. Accessed September, 2026. https://www.breakthrought1d.org/news-and-updates/fact-checking-myths-and-misconceptions-about-type-1-diabetes/
- Insel RA, Dunne JL, Atkinson MA, et al. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(10):1964-1974.
- Templeman EL, Ferrat LA, Thomas NT, et al. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(9):1571-1580.
- US Centers For Disease and Control and Prevention. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Accessed September, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-1-diabetes.html
- Mayo Clinic. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Accessed Spetember, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabeticketoacidosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371551
- Cleveland Clinic. Diabetes-Related Ketoacidosis (DKA). Accessed September, 2026. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21945-diabetic-ketoacidosis-dka
- DiMeglio LA, Evans-Molina C, Oram RA. Lancet. 2018;391(10138):2449-2462.
- Gregory GA, Robinson TIG, Linklater SE, et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022;10(10):741-760.
- Haller MJ, Bell KJ, Besser REJ, et al. Horm Res Paediatr. 2024;97(6):529-545.
- Parkkola A, Härkönen T, Ryhänen SJ, et al. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(2):348-354.
- Besser REJ, Ng, SM, Gregory JW, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2022;107(9):790-795.
- Ziegler AG, Danner T, Daniel C, et al. Med. 2021;2(10):1120-1137.
- Phillip M, Achenbach P, Addala A, et al. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(8):1276-1298.
- Naredran P. Diabetologia. 2019;62(1):24-27.
- Lundgren M, Jonsdottir B, Elding Larsson H. Diabetologia. 2019;62(1):53-57.
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