Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Diabetes
CPD
Complete 1.5 CPD hours

Autoimmune conditions associated with type 1 diabetes

Pat Phillips, Jessica Phillips
Go To
CPD
Abstract
People with type 1 diabetes are likely to have another autoimmune disease, and possibly more. The presence of these associated immune conditions should be sought, ideally at the time of diabetes diagnosis.
Key Points
  • Autoimmune thyroid disease is the most common autoimmune endocrine disease in patients with type 1 diabetes.
  • Coeliac disease affects about 5% of children with type 1 diabetes, and also occurs in adults.
  • Hypoadrenalism is the main feature of the more common form of polyglandular autoimmune syndrome associated with type 1 diabetes.
  • Unexpected hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes can be caused by undiagnosed hypothyroidism, coeliac disease, hypoadrenalism and, rarely, hypopituitarism.
  • Features of pregnancy care in women with type 1 diabetes include tight glycaemic control preconceptionally and during pregnancy, and management of coeliac disease and pregnancy-related changes in associated hypothyroidism if present.
  • Women with type 1 diabetes may develop more severe and/or additional autoimmune diseases after pregnancy.
Get full access
Subscribe for full access to all articles
Buy this article

Single article purchases are temporarily unavailable due to site maintenance.

If you would like to purchase an article during this time, please email us at [email protected] with the article details and we'll assist you directly. We'll also let you know when online purchasing is available again.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Already a subscriber?