Recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?
Diabetes is a complicated and challenging disease. It is an exhausting battle of highs and lows—physically and emotionally. Diabetes is an everyday disease that cannot be ignored. Finding the right balance is the key to managing your new way of life.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease that can emerge suddenly, causing dependence on insulin for life. This means that your immune system (the part of your body that helps fight infections) mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin (known as beta cells). As beta cells are destroyed, your ability to produce insulin is decreased. Insulin is important because it helps keep blood sugar (glucose) levels normal.
Despite progress towards understanding the science behind T1DM, doctors are still working hard to develop new treatments that can be given soon after diagnosis to preserve the remaining beta cells for as long as possible.
For a period right after diagnosis, not all of a person’s beta cells have been destroyed—between 15-40% remain, and your pancreas is still able to make small amounts of insulin. Scientific evidence suggests that giving medicines to affect the immune system soon after diagnosis may stop, delay, or decrease the destruction of beta cells, resulting in better glucose control.
Even small amounts of naturally produced insulin can improve blood sugar control, make daily management of diabetes easier, and reduce the risk of long-term complications. Preserving these remaining beta cells is the goal of the T1DAL trial.
Your beta cells are precious. Help us learn how to save them.