Background
This study investigated the natural progression of β‐cell function in Chinese autoimmune type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients and clarified factors possibly influencing the course of the disease.
Methods
The natural progression of β‐cell function of 325 newly diagnosed Chinese autoimmune T1D patients was assessed by fasting and postprandial C‐peptide (FCP and PCP, respectively) levels. β‐Cell function failure was defined as FCP <50 pM and PCP <100 pM, whereas preserved β‐cell function was defined as FCP >200 pM or PCP >400 pM. β‐Cell function that did not meet these criteria was described as residual.
Results
At initial recruitment, 33.3% of patients had β‐cell function failure, whereas 41.0% and 25.8% of patients had preserved or residual β‐cell function, respectively. The percentage of patients who developed β‐cell function failure during follow‐up at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months after recruitment to the study was 55.8%, 75.6%, 86.7%, and 92.7%, respectively. Moreover, the slope of the β‐cell function curve decreased over time, indicating that the pattern of its decline was non‐linear and tapering. Seven percent of patients did not develop β‐cell function failure within 4 years after diagnosis. Patients with lower initial FCP levels were more likely to develop β‐cell function failure.
Conclusions
Chinese autoimmune T1D patients have considerable residual β‐cell function at initial diagnosis, and the manner of progression of β‐cell function failure is non‐linear with a tapering decay rate. Furthermore, initial FCP levels may predict β‐cell function failure in Chinese autoimmune T1D patients.