There's a lot to say about type 1 diabetes (T1D) and TZIELD. If you'd prefer a more bite-sized view of T1D, including understanding how to spot T1D early, the importance of early screening and if TZIELD is right for you or your loved one, check out our TZIELD Essentials page!
EXPLOREAlthough many think of type 1 diabetes (T1D) as a disease that mostly affects children, it’s actually a lifelong progressive autoimmune disease that can happen to anyone, regardless of their age, family history, or lifestyle choices.
With type 1 diabetes, your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy insulin-producing cells called beta cells. Insulin helps convert food to energy in the body. Without insulin, blood sugar levels become too high, which can lead to life-threatening complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
There are 3 stages of autoimmune type 1 diabetes. In Stages 1 and 2, people don't have any obvious symptoms. But Stage 3, the final stage, is different. This is when type 1 diabetes can severely impact both your body and day-to-day life. That’s because at this point, too many insulin-producing beta cells have been damaged for the body to make enough insulin. This is when lifestyle changes and insulin injections become necessary.
Reports show that 62% of new T1D diagnoses occur after the age of 20
Type 1 diabetes has
no noticeable symptoms in early stages
Autoimmune type 1 diabetes starts long before people need insulin injections or notice symptoms, and before the silently growing risk of life-threatening complications like DKA. But even during the early stages, signals show up in the blood in the form of type 1 diabetes–related proteins called autoantibodies.
Importantly, autoantibodies can be detected with a blood test, allowing for earlier diagnosis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes and proactive planning to do something about it before an unexpected diagnosis or potentially being blindsided by serious complications.
Beta cells are the cells in the pancreas that are responsible for making insulin and releasing it into the body to control blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetes autoantibodies are proteins that show up as markers in the blood when the immune system attacks insulin-making beta cells. They are an early warning that there’s a significant risk of autoimmune type 1 diabetes and insulin dependence in the future. These autoantibodies can be screened for with a blood test that is different from a blood sugar level test.
TZIELD is used to delay the onset of Stage 3 autoimmune type 1 diabetes for people 8 years and older with Stage 2 autoimmune type 1 diabetes. But what, exactly, do Stages 2 and 3 mean when it comes to autoimmune type 1 diabetes?
As you've learned, Stages 1 and 2 of autoimmune type 1 diabetes have no obvious symptoms because the body is still able to make enough insulin. However, in Stage 3, the body is no longer able to make enough insulin to keep blood sugar at a normal level. This is when symptoms are noticed, serious complications can happen, and insulin injections and disease management may become necessary.
The immune system has started attacking beta cells
Two or more type 1 diabetes autoantibodies are present
Blood sugar levels are 
No obvious symptoms
No insulin is needed
Beta cells continue to be attacked
Two or more type 1 diabetes autoantibodies are present
Blood sugar levels may be outside of a normal range.
No obvious symptoms
No insulin is needed
Beta cells are damaged and can’t make enough insulin to regulate blood sugar
Two or more type 1 diabetes autoantibodies may be present
Blood sugar levels are higher than a healthy range (hyperglycemia) and there is a risk of dangerous complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Obvious symptoms
The body can’t make 
DKA can come without warning Diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, is a serious complication of autoimmune type 1 diabetes that can happen when the blood becomes acidic as a result of not having enough insulin in the body.
DKA can come without warning, and coma and even death can result from it. DKA could also have lasting effects on brain function that lead to lower verbal IQ and memory problems. Studies also show that a DKA event can affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar even years after.
Early screening and more time to learn how to manage autoimmune type 1 diabetes could help you or a loved one lower the risk of DKA!
There are no data to suggest that TZIELD will have any effect on these outcomes.
Frank’s son is many things, but quiet is not one of them. Luckily, this DKA story has a happy ending, but what happened when Frank went to check on his son one evening is something he hopes no one’s family will ever have to experience.
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver and your complete blood counts before you start treatment and during treatment with TZIELD. During and after your treatment with TZIELD, your healthcare provider will check for serious side effects, as well as other side effects, and treat you as needed. Your healthcare provider may temporarily or completely stop your treatment with TZIELD, if you develop liver problems, have a serious infection, or if your blood counts stay too low.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving TZIELD? Before or after receiving TZIELD, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of TZIELD? The most common side effects of TZIELD include:These are not all of the possible side effects of TZIELD. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information, and tell them about any side effects you notice. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Medication Guide and Prescribing Information.
TZIELD is a prescription medicine used to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes, which is when your body can’t make enough insulin on its own and may require insulin injections. TZIELD is for adults and children 8 years of age and older who have Stage 2 type 1 diabetes. This means that they have tested positive for 2 or more type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies, have abnormal blood sugar levels, and do not have type 2 diabetes.
It is not known if TZIELD is safe and effective in children under 8 years of age.
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver and your complete blood counts before you start treatment and during treatment with TZIELD. During and after your treatment with TZIELD, your healthcare provider will check for serious side effects, as well as other side effects, and treat you as needed. Your healthcare provider may temporarily or completely stop your treatment with TZIELD, if you develop liver problems, have a serious infection, or if your blood counts stay too low.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving TZIELD? Before or after receiving TZIELD, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of TZIELD? The most common side effects of TZIELD include:These are not all of the possible side effects of TZIELD. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information, and tell them about any side effects you notice. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Medication Guide and Prescribing Information.
TZIELD is a prescription medicine used to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes, which is when your body can’t make enough insulin on its own and may require insulin injections. TZIELD is for adults and children 8 years of age and older who have Stage 2 type 1 diabetes. This means that they have tested positive for 2 or more type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies, have abnormal blood sugar levels, and do not have type 2 diabetes.
It is not known if TZIELD is safe and effective in children under 8 years of age.