Final answer:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that typically occurs during childhood and is the leading cause of diabetes in children, requiring insulin injections for management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The autoimmune disease that typically occurs during childhood and is the leading cause of diabetes in children is a) Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas. This results in a deficiency of insulin, which is essential for regulating blood glucose levels. Children with type 1 diabetes require insulin injections for survival since their pancreas can no longer fulfill its role in glucose regulation.
Type 1 diabetes, often referred to as juvenile diabetes, is different from type 2 diabetes, which is usually associated with chronic inflammation and lifestyle factors. While both types of diabetes affect the regulation of blood sugar, only type 1 is categorized as an autoimmune disease and is primarily diagnosed in children and young adults.