Method of use of peptide antagonists of zonulin to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes

A method for delay of onset of diabetes comprising:

• administering to a subject in need of such delay of onset, a pharmaceutically effective amount of a peptide antagonist of zonulin, wherein said peptide antagonist binds to zonula occludens toxin receptor, yet does not physiologically modulate the opening of mammalian intestinal tight junctions.