Immunotherapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease with chronic progressive nature. The genetic, immunological, and initial metabolic abnormalities long precede the appearance of clinical symptoms, which brings up the possibility of delaying, preventing, or even reversing the development of the disease. Unfortunately, clinical trials aimed at the prevention of the disease did not bring resounding success for a long time. Recently, however, immunological treatment has reached the stage where the benefits of the intervention outweigh the risks associated with the treatment. Putting these options into daily practice, the possibility of delaying insulin treatment will reshape the current strategy of treating the disease and searching for high -risk patients with type 1 diabetes. The authors summarize the most essential knowledge about immunotherapy for the disease.