The invention relates to the use of boswellic acids such as acetyl-11-keto-²-boswellic acid, 11-keto-²-boswellic acid, ²-boswellic acid, acetyl-²-boswellic acid, 9,11-dehydro-²-boswellic acid, acetyl-9,11-dehydro-²-boswellic acid, a-boswellic acid, acetyl-a-boswellic acid, 11-dehydro-a-boswellic acid, acetyl-9,11-dehydro-a-boswellic acid, lupeolic acid, acetyl lupeolic acid, 12-ursene-2-diketone, incensole, incensole acetate, a derivative, in particular an ester thereof, a physiologically tolerable salt thereof, a combination thereof, or a preparation containing one or more of these compounds for the human medical or veterinary prophylaxis and/or treatment of a) damage to and/or inflammation of the islets of Langerhans and/or b) damage to the B-cells of the islets of Langerhans.
