Which diabetes type is characterized by the body's immune system destroying insulin-producing cells?

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the body's immune system attacking and destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This autoimmune response leads to a significant reduction or complete lack of insulin, which is essential for glucose regulation in the body. As a result, individuals with type 1 diabetes must often rely on exogenous insulin administration to manage their blood glucose levels.

In contrast, type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance and a relative deficiency of insulin rather than complete destruction of cells. Type 3 diabetes is not a widely recognized term in the same context as type 1 and type 2 but can refer to a form of diabetes associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Gestational diabetes typically occurs during pregnancy as a result of hormonal changes and usually resolves after childbirth, but it is not associated with the immune destruction of insulin-producing cells. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why type 1 diabetes is defined by this autoimmune process.