Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Diabetes
Autoimmune conditions associated with type 1 diabetes
Recent articles on:
Diabetes type 1
Diabetes type 1
Recent articles on:
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases
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.
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