A study conducted by scientists from the University of Florida has revealed an early sign in the body that indicates the development of type 1 diabetes. The study, published in the journal Diabetes, found that the first cells to be destroyed at the onset of type 1 diabetes are the smallest clusters of insulin-producing beta cells and the individual scattered cells in the pancreas. This process occurs before any symptoms appear and points to the stage where the immune system attacks the large islets of Langerhans, which are responsible for producing the majority of insulin in the body. The ability to detect this early stage and protect the large islets of Langerhans could slow down or prevent the progression of the disease. Furthermore, this discovery explains why the disease progresses more rapidly in children, whose pancreas contains a greater number of small islets that are the first to be attacked by the immune system. The findings open the door to developing new strategies for preventing and combating type 1 diabetes.
