Which type of diabetes is characterized by an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells?

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This condition typically presents itself in childhood or adolescence but can occur at any age. The immune system mistakenly attacks these cells, leading to little or no insulin production, which is essential for regulating blood glucose levels.

In contrast, type 2 diabetes primarily involves insulin resistance and a gradual decline in insulin secretion rather than an autoimmune response. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth, involving temporary insulin resistance rather than the destruction of insulin-producing cells. Prediabetes is a state where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, indicating an increased risk for developing diabetes, rather than an autoimmune condition.

Therefore, type 1 diabetes is uniquely identified by its autoimmune mechanism of cell destruction, making it the correct answer to this question.