Insulin Antibody Test (Type I and II Diabetes)

The insulin antibody test is a blood test that is used to detect antibodies to insulin. Antibodies are proteins that the body produces in response to foreign substances. In the case of insulin antibody testing, the foreign substance is insulin.

The insulin antibody test is typically used to diagnose type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body to use glucose for energy. When the body does not produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels can rise to dangerously high levels.

The insulin antibody test can also be used to monitor the course of type 1 diabetes. If the level of insulin antibodies in the blood is increasing, it may mean that the body's immune system is attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This could indicate that the patient is at risk for developing type 1 diabetes.

The insulin antibody test is a simple and painless procedure. A small sample of blood is drawn from a vein in the arm. The results of the test are usually available within a few days.