Symptoms and
complications
You can have autoimmune T1D with and without symptoms
- In autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D), impaired insulin production can lead to symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and tiredness1,2
- While it’s important to know these symptoms, autoimmune T1D develops gradually and silently in the early stages, so you could have the condition without noticing any symptoms3,4
- By the time symptoms do appear, the autoimmune attack is well underway, with most people having already lost 60–85% of their insulin-producing cells5
- Thankfully, autoimmune T1D can now be detected before symptoms appear, giving people an advantage and allowing them to adjust to life with their diagnosis4,6,7
Complications of autoimmune T1D
Unfortunately, having autoimmune T1D can lead to health problems.8 In the short-term, the management of symptomatic autoimmune T1D can result in either dangerously low or high blood sugar if levels are not managed correctly.8 Longer-term, persistently elevated blood sugar levels resulting from autoimmune T1D can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, impacting the heart, kidneys and brain.8
In some cases, very low levels of insulin in people with autoimmune T1D can cause harmful substances called ketones to build up in the blood, causing it to become too acidic, and resulting in a serious health problem called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA.9 DKA is usually sudden and can result in hospitalisation.9,10 What is concerning is that an event of DKA is often what leads to a person’s initial diagnosis, which can be distressing for individuals and their family.2,10-12
Fortunately, detecting autoimmune T1D early and monitoring the condition with guidance from your doctor can significantly reduce the chances of DKA and other complications.2,13-15 In fact, screening has been shown to reduce the chances of DKA by up to 90%.2
References:
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DiMeglio LA, Evans-Molina C, Oram RA. Lancet. 2018;391(10138):2449-2462.
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Besser REJ, Ng SM, Gregory JW, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2022;107(9):790-795.
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Insel RA, Dunne JL, Atkinson MA, et al. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(10):1964-1974.
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Sims EK, Besser REJ, Dayan C, et al. Diabetes. 2022;71(4):610-623.
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Gitelman SE, Evans-Molina C, Guolo A, et al. Diabetes. 2023;72(9):1289-1296.
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Raab J, Haupt F, Scholz M, et al. BMJ Open. 2016;6(5):e011144.
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Besser REJ, Bell KJ, Couper JJ, et al. Pediatr Diabetes. 2022;23(8):1175-1187.
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Diabetes UK. Complications of Diabetes. Available at: Complications of diabetes | Guide to diabetes | Diabetes UK. Accessed April 2025.
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Kitabchi AE, Umpierrez GE, Miles JM, et al. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(7):1335-1343.
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Wolfsdorf JI, Glaser N, Agus M, et al. Pediatr Diabetes. 2018;19(Suppl 27):155-177.
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Rikos N, Mpalaskas A, Fragiadaki M, et al. Nurs Rep. 2022;12(3):564-573.
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Jönsson L, Lundqvist P, Tiberg I, et al. Scand J Caring Sci. 2015;29(1):126-135.
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Sims EK, Besser REJ, Dayan C, et al. Diabetes. 2022;71(4):610-623.
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Narendran P. Diabetologia. 2019;62(1):24-27.
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Hummel S, Carl J, Friedl N, et al. Diabetologia. 2023;66(9):1633-1642.