Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, also called type-I diabetes, is a chronic autoimmune disease induced by the selective destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the Langerhans` islets by autoimmune inflammation reactions. A characteristic consequence is the almost complete loss of insulin production.

The autoimmune pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is accompanied by the appearance of autoantibodies against beta-cell antigens in the pre-clinical phase. Antibodies against islet cells (32%), insulin (up to 70%), glutamate-decarboxylase and tyrosine-phosphatase IA-2 are detected; they are markers for the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells.

Anti-insulin antibodies are detected in 37% of the patients with freshly diagnosed type-I diabetes and in 2-6% of their direct offspring, but also in 1.5% of the healthy individuals.