Proteins that the body makes to protect itself from foreign substances. Occasionally, the body also makes proteins against normal parts of the body. These proteins are called autoantibodies.1. Exogenous Antibodies: In either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the body sometimes makes antibodies to work against pork or beef insulins because they are not exactly the same as human insulin or because they have impurities. These antibodies can keep the insulin from working well and may rarely cause the person with diabetes to have an allergic or bad reaction to the beef or pork insulins.2. Endogenous Antibodies: In Type 1 diabetes, several different autoantibodies against normal tissues are found. These antibodies are associated with the destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, although their exact role is uncertain. Some of the autoantibodies which are found in diabetes patients include: islet-cell antibodies (ICAs), anti-insulin antibodies (AIAs), and anti-GAD antibodies.

This definition is in context to Diabetes. See more contextual defintions for Antibodies.