Rising incidence of autoimmune T1D: Need for screening
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition marked by reduction in insulin-producing β-cells, leading to an absolute or near-absolute insulin deficiency. The increasing incidence of autoimmune T1D in populations with relatively stable genetic backgrounds suggests that environmental factors are playing an increasingly important role in triggering β-cell-specific autoimmunity or accelerating the progression of autoimmune T1D.1 Screening for autoimmune T1D-associated autoantibodies represents a reliable method for identifying individuals in the presymptomatic stage, before significant β-cell loss and need for exogenous insulin therapy. Early identification of individuals with an increased chance of having autoimmune T1D enables timely monitoring and interventions, which can reduce the chance of experiencing a medical emergency like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).2
