FLORIDA : According to a study published in the journal Diabetes, researchers found that the immune system’s initial attack does not begin with the large insulin-producing islets of Langerhans, as previously believed. Instead, it targets the smallest clusters of insulin-producing beta cells and individual scattered cells within the pancreas.
The study explains that this early phase represents a critical turning point in the progression of type 1 diabetes. Detecting the disease at this stage could allow scientists and clinicians to protect the larger islets responsible for producing most of the body’s insulin, potentially slowing the disease’s progression or preventing it from worsening.
Researchers also noted that this discovery helps explain why type 1 diabetes often advances more rapidly in children. Children typically have a higher number of small islets, which are more vulnerable to early immune attacks, accelerating the disease’s development.
The findings are based on detailed analysis of pancreatic tissue samples from the international Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD) database. Scientists say the results open the door to new preventive and therapeutic strategies that could transform the global fight against type 1 diabetes by shifting focus toward earlier detection and intervention.
Researchers have identified an early warning sign of type 1 diabetes, where the immune system targets small insulin-producing cells. This finding could revolutionize prevention and treatment by focusing on early detection, offering hope for slowing the disease, particularly in children with more small islets.