<正>Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which self-reactive T cells cause β-cell destruction． Studies in recent years have shown that people at risk for type 1 diabetes cna be identified 5 or more years before they develop the disease by the presence of serum islet-specific autoantibodies．This provides an opportunity for intervention against the autoimmune process that might prevent at risk individuals developing diabetes at all．Immunosuppressive treatments such as cyclosporin are known to stop the autoimmune process,but are too toxic for lifelong therapy．