Type 1 diabetes was formerly referred to as juvenile-onset diabetes because it usually begins during childhood or adolescence. Type 1 diabetes is an incurable condition in which the body loses its ability to produce the hormone insulin. In this autoimmune disease, the body attacks the pancreatic β-cells that produce insulin, and that results in an inability to convert sugar into energy. The resulting high blood sugar levels can lead to damage to organs such as the heart and kidneys, along with the nerves, teeth and gums.
Genetic Factors
Genetic risk factors can predispose a person to type 1 diabetes, and in the majority of cases, both parents must contribute risk factors. At least two susceptibility genes--HLA-DR3,DQB1*0201 and HLA-DR4,DQB1*0302—are found in over 90 percent of those with Type 1 diabetes, notes the Merck Manual. Genetic factors do not guarantee that a person will have the disease, however, and the American Diabetes Association points out that in identical twins, who share identical genes, if one has Type 1 diabetes the other develops the condition only half of the time. Scientists believe that genetic factors alone do not cause Type 1 diabetes, and they posit that environmental influences also play a role.
Viruses
Certain viruses, including cytomegalovirus, retroviruses, Epstein-Barr and coxsackievirus have been associated with the onset of the disease, notes the Merck Manual. The exact mechanisms by which the viruses may destroy pancreatic β-cells remain unclear, but the possibilities include direct infection and destruction of those cells by the virus, and indirect attack through stimulation of an immune response against the cells.
Diet
Certain dietary factors may play a role in causing Type 1 diabetes. Increased risk has been linked to infant consumption of dairy products, notably cow’s milk and the protein β casein, which is found in milk. People who were breastfed and those who began to eat solid foods at a later age develop Type 1 diabetes less frequently than others, notes the American Diabetes Association. Drinking water that contains high levels of nitrates and consuming inadequate amounts of vitamin D are also associated with increased risk for Diabetes Type 1. The production of antibodies that play a role in diabetes increases in infants exposed to cereals and gluten when younger than 4 months or older than 7 months of age.
Weather
Cold weather may be an environmental trigger for the onset of Type 1 diabetes. The disease occurs more often in areas with cold climates, and onset occurs more often in the winter than in the summer.
