Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells causes severe insulin deficiency and lifelong dependence on insulin replacement.

Pancreatic beta cell: An insulin-producing cell in the pancreatic islets that helps regulate blood glucose. These cells are the immune system’s target and the source of the insulin lost.
Glucose: A simple sugar that serves as a major energy source for cells. Its concentration rises when insulin deficiency prevents normal regulation.
Insulin therapy: Treatment that supplies insulin to control blood glucose when the body cannot produce enough. Lifelong insulin replacement is essential because destroyed beta cells do not meet insulin needs.
Genetic predisposition: An inherited tendency that increases the probability of developing a disease or trait. Inherited risk contributes to type 1 diabetes but does not determine who develops it.
Hypoglycemia: A condition in which blood glucose falls below the level needed for normal function. Insulin treatment can lower glucose too far, making detection and response essential.
Insulin: A hormone that lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and storage. Its severe deficiency is the direct physiological consequence of beta-cell destruction.
Pancreatic islets: Clusters of hormone-producing cells scattered throughout the pancreas. Beta cells reside in these clusters, where immune injury develops.
Continuous glucose monitoring: Technology that measures glucose in interstitial fluid repeatedly throughout the day and night. Frequent readings help guide insulin doses and detect glucose trends.
HLA-DR3: A human leukocyte antigen variant associated with increased risk of several autoimmune diseases. This HLA type is among the genetic variants associated with type 1 diabetes susceptibility.
Diabetic retinopathy: Damage to retinal blood vessels caused by prolonged diabetes. Long-term glucose exposure can lead to this vision-threatening complication.

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