Exploring the Occurrence of Autoimmune Disorders in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Comprehensive Analysis of Frequency and Associations

Abstract Background: It is well recognized that type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and autoimmune diseases are related; however, exact frequency of autoimmune diseases in T1DM is still unknown. Objective: To determine the frequency of autoimmune disorder associated with T1DM. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE), Baqai Medical University (BMU), Karachi. One hundred and fifty-one diagnosed patients of T1DM having age <35 years were selected by using consecutive sampling technique. Clinical evidence (sign and symptoms) supported by diagnostic tests (where indicated) were used to confirm autoimmune disorder in T1DM. Results: Out of 151 T1DM patient, male patients were 80 (53.0%) and female patients were 71 (47.0%) with a mean age of 17.10 ± 5.74 years. Autoimmune disease was diagnosed in 43 (28.5%) T1DM patients. Most commonly reported autoimmune and other disorder associated with T1DM patient s was hypothyroidism diagnosed in 25 (16.6%) patients followed by celiac disease in 22 (14.6%) patients and Addison disease in four (2.6%) patients. Moreover, polycystic ovarian syndrome was found in 15 (21.1%) female patients. Conclusion: The substantial linkage observed between T1DM and autoimmune diseases underscores the critical importance of timely diagnosis for both conditions.