Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an organ specific autoimmune disease affecting the pancreas. The presence of antibodies in diabetes screening is important in assessing the type of diabetes. However, they cannot be used to make a diagnosis as the presence of antibodies does not guarantee the development of IDDM as well as the reverse with some diabetes patients never developing detectable amounts (this is rare with 95% of cases testing positive for at least one).

Antibodies are specialized proteins found in the blood and other places in the body. Part of the immune systems functions, antibodies respond to foreign substances. When antibodies malfunction and attack the body’s own systems they are called autoantibodies. With IDDM, autoantibodies attack islet beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, causing deficiency. Four of the most common antibodies related to type 1 diabetes are: glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibodies (GADA), insulin antibodies …