Our observation of reduced colocalisation of LC3 and LAMP1 in both human type 1 diabetes and NOD mice, coupled with our observations of impaired autophagic flux in diabetic NOD mice, suggests that the later stages of the autophagy degradation process, and not the formation of autophagosomes, are likely impaired. The gene discussed is MAP1LC3A; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.