Autoimmune type 1 diabetes diagnosis

Autoimmune type 1 diabetes affects 15 per 100,000 people worldwide.¹ It is an autoimmune disease with a progressive nature caused by the loss of insulin-producing cells.²

Learn how autoimmune type 1 diabetes works

Autoimmune type 1 diabetes can lead to a medical emergency when left untreated.³open_in_new Early detection of autoimmune type 1 diabetes reduces the chance of starting the journey with a medical emergency and provides a better way to be introduced to living with the condition.⁴open_in_new It puts you in the driving seat, giving you time to prepare for a life with autoimmune type 1 diabetes.

Autoimmune type 1 diabetes can cause a wide range of symptoms, including unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, and increased thirst and tiredness.³open_in_new

These symptoms play an important role in the diagnosis of symptomatic type 1 diabetes patients, however, it’s also now possible to diagnose autoimmune type 1 diabetes before the onset of symptoms through screening.²open_in_new

Tests used for a diagnosis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes include:

In autoimmune type 1 diabetes, the body's immune cells produce antibodies mistakenly against the pancreas.²open_in_new These so-called autoantibodies can appear years before the first symptoms emerge.

The detection of these autoantibodies through screening allows doctors to identify people who have a higher chance of developing autoimmune type 1 diabetes.²open_in_new In particular, individuals with a relative with autoimmune type 1 diabetes have an increased likelihood of developing autoimmune type 1 diabetes and are recommended to be screened.^1,6open_in_new

Doctors also use screening for autoantibodies to confirm a suspected type 1 diabetes diagnosis, because high blood glucose levels alone are not enough for a firm type 1 diabetes diagnosis..⁷open_in_new

However, screening may not always find autoantibodies - 90% of relatives of people with autoimmune type 1 diabetes will not show any detectable autoantibodies.⁴open_in_new

Learn more about screening in T1D.

Autoimmune type 1 diabetes can be detected years before a diagnosis is made. Currently, the most common age for an autoimmune type 1 diabetes diagnosis is between 12-14 years old.²open_in_new However, more than 50% of new type 1 diabetes cases are diagnosed in adults.⁸open_in_new

Autoimmune type 1 diabetes can develop at any age. In most cases, type 1 diabetes autoantibodies are already detectable before the age of 6.⁹open_in_new To detect autoimmune type 1 diabetes as early as possible, screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes should therefore be done in young children, ideally at the ages of 2 and 6.¹⁰open_in_new

Autoimmune type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any stage of life, with a rising number of people diagnosed over the age of 50.^2,11open_in_new

Adult patients are often diagnosed at a late stage when symptoms emerge and sometimes become medical emergencies, such as diabetic ketoacidosis.^2,4open_in_new Screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes can help reduce the likelihood of these medical emergencies.⁴open_in_new In particular, people with a family history of autoimmune type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune diseases are recommended to be screened.⁶open_in_new However, the majority of individuals with autoimmune type 1 diabetes do not have a family history of the condition.

See a healthcare professional if you suspect that you or your child has autoimmune type 1 diabetes.

Learn more about screening of autoimmune type 1 diabetes.

It is normal to feel surprised or scared by a new type 1 diabetes diagnosis and to have a lot of questions. Your healthcare team is there to support you in managing diabetes and living a long, healthy life.

There is currently no cure for autoimmune type 1 diabetes, however, new treatments are constantly being developed, making it easier to manage the condition.

If screening has shown that you are in presymptomatic stages 1 or 2 of autoimmune type 1 diabetes, then you and your doctor will keep track of the progression of your condition by monitoring changes in blood glucose levels^7,13open_in_new No insulin therapy is needed at this stage.

If you have symptomatic stage 3 autoimmune type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day via injection or a pump.^7,14open_in_new Your blood glucose levels have to be monitored regularly with blood glucose meters or continuous glucose monitors, as well as regular HbA1c tests.⁷open_in_new

In addition to insulin therapy, exercise, lifestyle changes, and support services can help you manage the disease and your well-being.⁷open_in_new