Type 1 Diabetes With Other Autoimmune Diseases


 2018-05-01

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...MORE

T1D & 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...MORE

T1D & 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...MORE

T1D & 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...MORE

T1D & 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...MORE

T1D & 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...MORE

T1D & 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...MORE

T1D & 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

 

WRITTEN BY BT1 Editorial Team, POSTED 05/01/18, UPDATED 12/30/22

This piece was authored collaboratively by the Beyond Type 1 Editorial Team.