- Immune-mediated diabetes (Type 1A). This form of diabetes results from a cellular-mediated autoimmune destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas. Markers of the immune destruction of the beta cell include islet cell autoantibodies and other antibodies. One and usually more of these autoantibodies are present in 85 - 90% of individuals when fasting hyperglycemia is initially detected. Also, the disease has strong HLA associations.
- Idiopathic diabetes (Type 1B). Some forms of Type 1 diabetes have no known etiologies. Some of these patients have permanent insulin deficiency and are prone to ketoacidosis but have no evidence of autoimmunity. Although only a minority of patients with Type 1 diabetes fall into this category, of those who do, most are of African, Hispanic, or Asian origin. Individuals with this form of diabetes suffer from episodic ketoacidosis and exhibit varying degrees of insulin deficiency between episodes. This form of diabetes is strongly inherited, lacks immunological evidence for beta cell autoimmunity, and is not HLA associated. An absolute requirement for insulin replacement therapy in affected patients may come and go.
Source: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/dictionary/t.htm
The question is... which type are you???
I'm getting my GAD antibodies tested (tells whether you are predisposed for autoimmune diabetes) and also my C-peptide levels tested (tells whether you are still producing any insulin or not) in February so I may find out soon! I'm thinking I have type 1A since I was diagnosed shortly after having a viral infection.