Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing b cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas are progressively destroyed. As a result, insulin production is reduced and ultimately ceases altogether. Currently almost 20,000,000 people worldwide suffer from type 1 diabetes, and the incidence continues to rise. The disease is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Alternative names for the disease are juvenile diabetes and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
The causes of type 1 diabetes are not completely understood. The disease is multi-factoral, apparently being caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and an environmental component. It is thought that a virus or chemical might serve as an environmental trigger in those who are genetically predisposed. The arrival of the disease is heralded by the presence in the blood of autoantibodies against insulin as well as GAD65 and IA-2.
PerkinElmer supports research into the etiology of the type 1 diabetes by offering a comprehensive selection of DNA probe assays for investigation of predisposition. Serology tests are then available for detection of autoantibodies.
There is still no cure for type 1 diabetes. Treatment involves regular insulin injections with careful attendance to both exercise and nutrition. It is estimated that in the USA alone some $40 billion dollars per year is spent on treatment. Any means by which the disease’s onset can be delayed has potential to offer considerable benefit in terms of health care cost reduction as well as by immeasurably improving the lives of those affected by the disease. Early diagnosis is also important to prevent some of the more serious complications of diabetes, which include heart disease, blindness, high blood pressure, nerve damage, and kidney failure.
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