Description
Type 1 diabetes (T1D), once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. T1D is considered an autoimmune disease and hence autoantibody tests are occasionally used to help confirm the diagnosis and also determine some complications and side effects for the disease.
The detection of autoantibodies against anti‐Glutamate Decarboxylase (GAD) is found in 70%-90% of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The presence of anti-GAD antibodies gives a high predictive value for the patient to develop type 1 diabetes.
Symptoms
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Bed-wetting in children who previously didn’t wet the bed during the night
- Extreme hunger
- Unintended weight loss
- Irritability and other mood changes
- Fatigue and weakness
- Blurred vision