Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing β (beta) cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. This targeted destruction leads to an inflammatory response known as insulitis.

Over time, the pancreas of individuals with Type 1 diabetes typically becomes smaller, lighter, and shows abnormalities in blood vessels, nerve innervation, and extracellular matrix organization.

Without proper treatment blood glucose levels remain chronically elevated, a condition known as hyperglycemia.