Type 1 Diabetes With Other Autoimmune Diseases
Editor’s Note: This content has been verified by Marina Basina, MD, a clinical associate professor at Stanford University. She’s a clinical endocrinologist and researcher with a focus on diabetes management and diabetes technology. Dr. Basina is an active member of multiple medical advisory boards and community diabetes organizations, and she is on the Beyond Type 1 Science Advisory Council.
People with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, are more likely to have a co-occurring autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disease means that your immune system sees your body’s own tissue as foreign invaders and attacks itself. For example, if you have type 1, your body mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing (beta) cells in your body. The reason that co-occurring autoimmune disorders are so common isn’t exactly known, although we do know that genetics play a significant role.
Because we know that having type 1 puts you at a higher risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, it’s important to be aware of what the signs and symptoms are. The following are warning signs that are common for all autoimmune diseases, including type 1:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Rashes
- Achiness
- Weight loss
- Concentration issues
- Numbness/tingling in extremities
- Insomnia
- Abnormal heart rate
- Fertility problems
- Abdominal pain
These symptoms are non-specific and don’t necessarily indicate another autoimmune disease. However, you should see your doctor if you are exhibiting them.
Although the exact reason is unknown, there are a few autoimmune diseases that tend to co-occur with type 1 diabetes that are listed below.
T1D & Celiac Disease
10% of the population with Type 1 diabetes also have celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which suffers are unable to eat gluten because it causes their body’s immune system to...MORET1D & Thyroid Diseases
As much as 30% of the type 1 diabetes population also has a thyroid disease, the most common of which are Hashimoto’s and Graves disease. In both of these diseases, the autoimmune system attacks the...MORET1D & Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which is a part of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It affects those with type 1...MORET1D & Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease which affects the tissues in many different parts of the body. Most commonly, skin is affected in the form of sun-sensitive rashes, but blood vessels, joints, organs, an...MORET1D & Gastritis
Up to 10% of the population with type 1 diabetes has Autoimmune Gastritis as a co-occuring autoimmune disorder. Also known as Type A Gastritis, it is an autoimmune disease in which the stomach deterio...MORET1D & Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease is caused by an autoimmune attack of the adrenal glands and results these glands inability to produce sufficient cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. Although it is not as common as...MORET1D & Vitiligo
Vitiligo is also thought to be a rare autoimmune disease that those with type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk for. For those with vitiligo, the immune system attack skin cells called melanocytes, whic...MORET1D & Autoimmune Arthritis
Although there are over 100 different types of arthritis and related diseases, the most common type is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is an autoimmune disease that results in the degradation of join...MORE