Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results in destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The resulting insulin deficiency leads to rising blood glucose levels that over time can lead to a range of complications involving the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth.
T1D may debut at any age but it usually begins in childhood or early adulthood, and is fatal if untreated. The standard current treatment is regular blood glucose monitoring and subcutaneous administration of modified human insulin expressed in heterologous hosts, e.g., E. coli.
