Current evidence shows that Type 1 diabetes is:
- Autoimmune disease. The initial trigger event remains unknown.
Antibodies have been identifies for the following targets:
 | islet cell cytoplasmic constituents |
| insulin |
| glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) |
| tyrosine phosphatases (IA-2) |
| heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) |
These antibodies may appear in people at risk for Type 1 diabetes, and
the more identified, the higher the risk.
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Rationale for Prevention Trials
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune
disease
- Type 1 diabetes generally has a long time of onset
- Type 1 diabetes has a polygenic origin
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