Final answer:
Yes, diabetes-associated antibodies can indeed be used to distinguish Type 1 from Type 2 diabetes, since the presence of specific autoantibodies is indicative of the autoimmune nature of Type 1 diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that diabetes-associated antibodies can be helpful in distinguishing Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DMT1) from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DMT2). Type 1 diabetes is a T-cell-dependent autoimmune disease characterized by the selective destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas. In Type 1 diabetes, autoantibodies can often be detected, which target insulin-producing beta cells. These antibodies include Islet Cell Antibodies (ICA), Insulin Autoantibodies (IAA), Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies (GADA), and antibodies to the Tyrosine Phosphatases IA-2 and IA-2β. The presence of these antibodies is indicative of an autoimmune attack on the pancreas and can be used to differentiate Type 1 from Type 2 diabetes, where autoimmune destruction is not typically a feature.