Associated conditions and other complications

Autoimmune disorders

• Islet cell antibodies and other autoantibodies can be found in a high proportion of children prior to the onset of type 1 diabetes
• More children with type 1 diabetes also have other detectable organ-specific autoantibodies (e.g. thyroid, antigliadin, adrenal) than are found among the general population
• Family members of children with diabetes are more likely to have autoantibodies and other manifestations of autoimmune disease than the general population

Risk factors for the development of associated autoimmune disorders

• Age (older)
• Sex (female)
• Duration of diabetes (longer)
• Presence of other organ-specific autoantibodies
• Family history of autoimmune disease (genetic predisposition)

Children and adolescents with diabetes have an increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders