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What to Do If You Test Positive for Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibodies

Written by: Christine Fallabel

4 minute read

September 25, 2023

Don't panic if your type 1 diabetes autoantibody test is positive. Here's how you can take care of yourself and your health.

You took a proactive step by consulting your doctor and getting tested for islet autoantibodies. Now, what comes next? Depending on your results, you may not have positive autoantibodies for type 1 diabetes or you might have tested positive for one or more type 1 autoantibodies.

The antibodies for which these tests check are:

  • Islet cell cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ICA)
  • Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA)
  • Insulinoma-associated-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A)
  • Insulin autoantibodies (IAA)
  • Zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies (ZnT8A)

What does having type 1 diabetes autoantibodies mean?

  • Positive type 1 diabetes autoantibodies indicate a moderate to extremely high risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
  • Over 90 percent of people with new-onset type 1 diabetes will have at least one islet autoantibody.
  • Always consult your doctor to interpret your test results and their significance.

Testing positive.

Testing negative

  • Testing negative for autoantibodies usually indicates a low risk for developing type 1 diabetes.
  • Remember, autoantibody testing cannot diagnose type 1 diabetes
  • If you test negative but have symptoms like frequent urination, extreme thirst, exhaustion, or unexplained weight loss, contact your doctor or seek emergency care
    • Undiagnosed type 1 diabetes can be life-threatening.

Limitations of autoantibody testing

  • Negative test results don’t fully rule out type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, especially if you have symptoms.
  • Not everyone with a single autoantibody develops type 1 diabetes
    • But most people with two or more autoantibodies eventually do.
  • Autoantibody testing cannot monitor or diagnose type 1 diabetes.

What will your doctor do next?

  • Once you and your doctor receive your results, they will probably want to order more tests to confirm the autoantibodies if needed, including:
    • Fasting glucose test
    • Oral glucose tolerance test
    • A1C test
    • C-peptide test
    • Insulin assay test
  • This can help them make a swift diagnosis of type 1 diabetes before severe symptoms and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) set in.

What do you do next?

  • Take a deep breath.
  • If you test positive for one autoantibody and have no symptoms, your risk for type 1 diabetes is low.
  • Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar, and you should watch for symptoms.
  • Retesting in a few months or years might be advised. If you test positive for two or more autoantibodies, your risk is higher.
  • Keep an eye on symptoms and see your doctor regularly for blood sugar and A1C checks.
  • Consider enrolling in a research study to identify early stages of type 1 diabetes, even years before symptoms appear.
    • Enrolling also helps researchers study type 1 diabetes and find ways to prevent it.

Other things you could do include:

  • Staying in close contact with your doctor for any updates or retesting
  • Continue monitoring for symptoms of type 1 diabetes
  • Educating yourself on the management of type 1 diabetes
  • Assessing your health insurance options for testing or future treatments

Knowledge is power

  • Getting tested for type 1 diabetes autoantibodies helps you make informed choices.
  • It’s a crucial step to assess your risk and prevent a dangerous diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
    • Especially if you test positive for two or more autoantibodies.
  • If you are diagnosed, remember you’re not alone—there’s a supportive type 1 diabetes community ready to help you navigate your journey.

This content was made possible by Provention Bio, a Sanofi Company.

Editorial control rests solely with Beyond Type 1.

Author

Christine Fallabel

Christine Fallabel has been living with type 1 diabetes since 2000. She's a health and science writer and has been featured in Diabetes Daily Grind, Insulin Nation, Diabetics Doing Things, and is a regular contributor to Diabetes Strong, T1D Exchange and Healthline. She earned her Master of Public Health from Temple University and received her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Delaware. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her husband in the mountains of Colorado, tinkering with her DIY Loop insulin pump, drinking strong coffee and reading in front of a cozy fire.