Autoimmunity laboratory

Case Study

Diabetes

The combined symptoms of fatigue, thirst and weight loss and the boy’s age led the GP to suspect that he may have Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The immune systems of people with IDDM incorrectly produces specifically targeted cells that attack and destroy the islet cells of the pancreas that normally produce insulin, a molecule crucial to the metabolism of sugars. This disease affects around 1 in 3000 people, generally under the age of 30. The cause is uncertain although some people have a genetic predisposition and some researchers in immunology have suggested that infection with a virus, such as mumps or cytomegalovirus, may be a triggering factor.

How might the Doctor investigate whether the patient has Diabetes?

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