The incidence of T1D is rising rapidly with a predicted increase in paediatric cases of 70% over the next 15 years in Europe.1 The aetiology of T1D is the autoimmune (loss of self-tolerance)-mediated destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β cells leading to insulin deficiency and development of hyperglycaemia.2 At present, medical management of T1D focuses on intensive insulin replacement therapy to limit microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy). This evidence concerns the gene INS and type 1 diabetes mellitus.