Categories: HEALTH

Type 1 diabetes is linked to these other autoimmune diseases

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that results from the inability of the pancreas to synthesize sufficient amounts of insulin, whose main function is to maintain adequate blood sugar (glucose) values. Within this pathology, there are two basic types: idiopathic and autoimmune. At the end of this, this factory Insulin (pancreatic beta cells) is destroyed by autoantibodies; That is, the organism attacks its own cells as if they were foreign. This is the same thing that happens in other autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, vitiligo, or primary adrenocortical insufficiency.

People with type 1 diabetes are at higher risk for these other conditions than the general population. “There is a genetic predisposition to this autoimmune destruction This means that these diseases may be related to each other. ” explains Beatriz Voltas Arribas, an endocrinologist at Manises Hospital.

There are many types of autoimmune diseases associated with type 1 diabetes. First, points out Sonia Gaztambide, President of the Spanish Diabetes Association Foundation (SED).“Generally speaking, any endocrine gland in the body will be affected.”. However, it was noted that some diseases were significantly more prevalent in these patients.

The most common autoimmune disease in type 1 diabetes

The following are the autoimmune diseases most commonly associated with type 1 diabetes:

autoimmune thyroid disease

Autoimmune thyroid disease is most common in people with type 1 diabetes. And the correlation between the two is more common in patients with genetic predispositions. Many people with diabetes have anti-thyroid antibodies, and up to 50% of cases develop thyroid disease.

“The most common one is the association of type 1 diabetes with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis,” Voltas confirms. “It’s easy to treat with thyroid hormone,” he added. Autoimmune thyroiditis is very common and is rarely diagnosed today due to severe hypothyroidism. It can be detected by regular testing of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).which is elevated when you have hypothyroidism.

Celiac disease

It is estimated that approximately 8-10% of people with type 1 diabetes also have celiac disease.meaning that the prevalence of the second pathology is much higher than that documented in the general population.

The coexistence of both pathologies complicates treatment, especially dietary advice. People with diabetes are taught to count the carbohydrates they eat, most of which come from flour. If you also have celiac disease, They must eliminate all foods containing gluten and find alternative productssuch as corn, rice or chickpeas.

renal insufficiency

Primary adrenal insufficiency, or Addison’s disease, is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys.The main consequences are Insufficient secretion of hormones (such as cortisone) that are necessary for the body to function properly. This treatment involves replacing natural cortisone with hormone replacement therapy. An estimated 1% of people with type 1 diabetes have the disease, with the prevalence being 3 to 5 times higher than in the general population.

chronic atrophic gastritis

People with type 1 diabetes are also at increased risk of developing autoimmune gastritis because the stomach cells that secrete hydrochloric acid, as well as intrinsic factor (which allows for the absorption of vitamin B12), are destroyed. The result is vitamin B12 deficiency.which causes what’s called pernicious anemia, can be treated with monthly injections of the deficient vitamin.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population. It can occur at any age, but is more common before the age of 30.. It affects both genders and all races equally.

It has been observed that patients with vitiligo are more likely to develop other autoimmune diseases, such as hyper or hypothyroidism and type 1 diabetes.

Nervous system disease

The same goes for type 1 diabetes It is associated with a variety of neurological disorders, such as myasthenia and multiple sclerosis. However, in this case, the increased risk is usually much smaller than in conditions like thyroiditis.

Rheumatism

Juvenile chronic arthritis, rheumatoid polyarthritis, and sarcoidosis also occur in people with type 1 diabetes The frequency is higher than that recorded in the general population.

Can the development of other autoimmune diseases be prevented?

“Right now you can’t prevent other autoimmune diseases from developing,” Gaztambide said. “Only the corresponding autoantibodies can be detected And know that if the result is positive, there is a risk of developing a certain pathology, and treat it when it occurs. ” Therefore, the key is early detection and early treatment.

To do this, as Voltas suggests, “People with type 1 diabetes must Proper follow-up by your endocrinologist based on specified analyzes and controls Conducted by experts. ”