AIMS: Type 1 diabetes in First Nations peoples is low yet type 2 diabetes is at epidemic proportions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of islet autoimmunity in First Nations women with dysglycaemia and its association with clinical features.
METHODS: One hundred and eighty First Nations women with prediabetes (n = 51) or type 2 diabetes (n = 129) were screened for any of GAD, IA-2 and ZnT8 autoantibodies using 3Screen ELISA, then ELISA for individual autoantibodies for positive screens. Associations between individual antibody positivity and clinical and metabolic characteristics were assessed.
RESULTS: Of the 180 women, 16% were positive on 3Screen, comprising 10/51 with prediabetes and 18/129 with diabetes. Sixteen of 28 positive on 3Screen were also positive for at least one individual autoantibody on ELISA testing; with 5/51 (10%) with prediabetes and 11/129 (9%) with diabetes. Individual autoantibody positivity was not associated with clinical and metabolic characteristics or markers of inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of individual autoantibody positivity among younger First Nations women with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes was 9%. Islet autoantibody positivity was not associated with a distinct clinical phenotype in this group. Longitudinal follow-up will allow assessment of glycaemic trajectories and clinical outcomes in younger First Nations women.