Type 1 diabetes mellitus induced by sintilimab: a case report and related case literature analysis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of malignant tumors. Although the incidence rate of type 1 diabetes induced by these inhibitors is low, the damage to pancreatic β cells is irreversible and the treatment effect of steroids is poor, which requires clinical attention. This article reports a case of a 69-year-old patient with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach and colon who developed this disease during treatment with Sintilimab combined with the SOX regimen. After insulin treatment, her blood glucose levels gradually stabilized. Based on the literature, we explore the pathogenesis, diagnostic difficulties, and current treatment status centered around insulin replacement therapy. We emphasize the need for clinicians to strengthen blood glucose monitoring during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, identify symptoms early, and optimize diagnosis and treatment to improve patient prognosis.