Ourdata about elevated serum IL-1β, TNF- α anddecreased IL-2, IL-6 levels in newly diagnosed IDDM patients incomparison with longer standing cases supports an activation ofsystemic inflammatory process during early phases of IDDM whichmay be indicative of an ongoing β-cell destruction.Persistence of significant difference between the cases with IDDMmonitored for a long time and controls in terms of IL-1β,IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α supports continuous activation duringthe late stages of diabetes. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is diabetes mellitus.