• For U.S. Residents Only
  • Sanofi logo

Type 1 diabetes happens in stages- BEFORE SYMPTOMS & INSULIN DEPENDENCE

Type 1 diabetes happens in stages– before insulin dependence Type 1 diabetes happens in stages– before insulin dependence
A mother wrapping her arms around her daughter and both are smiling

Type 1 diabetes is a
chronic, progressive
AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION

That means it needs to be managed for life and it gets worse over time in stages. You can think of an autoimmune disease like a programming error in the immune system. The immune system is programmed to protect people from harmful threats. But with autoimmune type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly thinks healthy cells, called beta cells, are a harmful threat and attacks them.

Beta cells make insulin—and people need insulin to convert blood sugar into energy. In short, people need insulin to live. Without enough insulin, your blood sugar level stays higher than normal, and serious, potentially life-threatening complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can happen.

This is also the point when lifelong lifestyle changes and insulin injections are needed.

A father and daughter smiling at each other while holding their hands up in the air
The risks are real
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a dangerous complication of autoimmune T1D. It can happen when the blood becomes acidic (when ketones are present) because the body doesn’t have enough insulin to let blood sugar into your cells. DKA can cause coma, brain damage, and even death.

TYPE 1 DIABETES

PROGRESSES IN 3 STAGES

Early-stage (or pre-insulin-dependent) type 1 diabetes is when the attack on beta cells has begun but the body can still make enough insulin to keep blood sugars in a relatively healthy range.

STAGE
1

  • Early-stage type 1 diabetes

  • Beta cell attack begins

  • Blood sugars are within a normal range

  • No visible signs or symptoms

STAGE
2

  • Early-stage type 1 diabetes

  • Beta cell attack continues

  • Blood sugars are higher or lower than a normal range

  • No visible signs or symptoms

STAGE
3

  • Insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes

  • Body no longer able to make enough or any insulin

  • Blood sugars are much higher than normal range

  • Visible signs and symptoms appear, and insulin dependence begins

*This stage is when type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed
A cluster of beta cells

You don't have to be caught off guard!

A diagnosis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes often comes without warning and in a traumatic way like an emergency room visit. Early screening could help.

A young woman

You can spot
TYPE 1
DIABETES
EARLY

When the attack on beta cells begins, proteins called autoantibodies appear in the blood.

A screening test can find these autoantibodies in the blood. If screening finds 2 or more autoantibodies, it's a sign that type 1 diabetes has begun.

A young woman, a brother and sister making pizza in a kitchen, and a mother marking her son's height on a doorframe

You can spot
TYPE 1
DIABETES
EARLY

When the attack on beta cells begins, proteins called autoantibodies appear in the blood.

A screening test can find these autoantibodies in the blood. If screening finds 2 or more autoantibodies, it's a sign that type 1 diabetes has begun.

Mail with exclamation points

Screening early gives you and your doctor options—and could help lower the risk of life-threatening complications like DKA that can otherwise strike without warning.

Learn more about why, where, and how to screen.

Discover your options