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Diabetes and autoimmune diseases

In autoimmune disease, an infection in the body attacks normal cells and tissues because the body’s natural defence system incorrectly identifies them as foreign tissue.

Type 1 diabetes in itself is an autoimmune disease and it involves a slightly higher risk of another autoimmune diseases. Vice versa, a person with another autoimmune disease has a slightly higher risk of getting type 1 diabetes at a later stage.

Common autoimmune diseases include coeliac disease, thyroid diseases, Addison’s disease where the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol, pernicious anaemia and vitiligo.

Updated 8.11.2023