The individual and median (—) sL-selectin levels in the peripheral blood of patients with newly diagnosed (n = 39) and long-term (n = 44) type I diabetes mellitus, first degree relatives of patients with type I diabetes with (Abs+) (n = 50) and without islet antibodies against pancreatic beta-cells (Abs–) (n = 40), patients with type II diabetes mellitus (n = 27), Graves’ disease (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 78). **Pcor < 0·003, ***Pcor < 0·0002, ****Pcor < 0·00001, Pcor=P × 7.