Exploring the Pathophysiology of Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes

Learning Objectives

• Educate on the pathophysiology of T1D, specifically the autoimmune processes (beta cell destruction)

Summary

In developed countries, autoimmune diseases are the third cause of morbidity and mortality. It means that the immune system, which normally should defend us against infections that attack our organism is pathogenic and destroys our own cells. This should not occur, as it is defined as the breakdown of physiological self-tolerance. In the case of autoimmune diabetes, this means that the cells of the immune system of patients are destroy the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans that produce insulin. The causes of type 1 diabetes are multiple with at least two very important ones. One cause is the genetic background of the individual. The disease is a polygenic disease, therefore, many genes are involved and contribute to the risk of the disease and in addition, major cause is the environment.

So, what is the environment? The thinking is that there could be a viral cause at the basis of all this. Despite of that, and despite of the many studies that have been done to try to prove that viral infection is the cause for the disease, this hasn't been demonstrated yet. The destruction of beta cells starts a long time before we can see hyperglycemia and can diagnose an abnormality in metabolic control. Therefore, we call presymptomatic the long period of time that may elapse between the beginning of the beta cell destruction and the discovery of the hyperglycemia and the need of being treated with insulin. So, we call it presymptomatic, but in fact, the immunological disease is already there.

MAT-GLB-2405103-1.0 - 08/2024