Before discussing the question “Is diabetes an autoimmune disease?”, it may help to understand what an autoimmune disease is. In essence, and for the sake of simplicity, an autoimmune disease is an allergy to yourself. The immune system attacks certain cells, depending on the autoimmune disease, because it thinks those cells are foreign, or an enemy. Of course they are not, but the immune system attacks them just the same. So if the body is destroying cells that shouldn’t be destroyed as if they are an invasion of your own body, you have an autoimmune disease. Diabetes, an autoimmune disease if it is type 1 falls within the definition.
Insulin dependent diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune disease of the pancreas, destroying the cells that produce insulin. So, is diabetes an autoimmune disease if it is type? The answer is a resounding yes.
