Causes and Risk Factors of Type 1 Diabetes

Causes

Type 1 diabetes is the result of your body’s own immune system mistakenly destroying the beta cells in the pancreas, a result of a defect specifically in the bone marrow and thymus (an organ of the immune system), resulting in the inadequate production of the hormone that regulates glucose in the blood. While glucose is required by your body and is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues, the buildup of glucose in your bloodstream instead of the absorption of glucose by your cells, as happens to type 1 diabetics, has potentially life-threatening effects. What’s even scarier is that this process can go on for months or years before any symptoms appear.

While it’s not entirely understood what causes type 1 diabetes to happen, as explored more in detail below, possible causes are believed to be genetics and exposure to viruses and other environmental factors. However just because a parent passes down genes associated with type 1 diabetes to their children doesn’t necessarily mean that those children will develop type 1 diabetes. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by diet and lifestyle habits.

Risk Factors

Unfortunately, risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

That said, according to Mayo Clinic and EndoctrineWeb, some known risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:

Family History

Anyone with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a slightly increased risk of developing the condition. If both parents have (or had) type 1, the likelihood of their child developing type 1 is higher than if just one parent has (or had) diabetes. If the father has type 1, the risk of a child developing it as well is slightly higher than if the mother or sibling has type 1 diabetes.

Genetics

The presence of a certain genetic marker indicates an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. That genetic marker is located on chromosome 6, and it’s an HLA (human leukocyte antigen) complex. According to WebMD, “they make proteins your immune system uses to keep you healthy. Since type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease — your body destroys the cells that make [the hormone that regulates glucose in the blood] — it makes sense that HLA genes are front and center.”

The source also goes on to say that there are thousands of versions of HLA genes in the human gene pool and which ones a person gets from their parents does play a big role in whether or not a child will have type 1 diabetes. Some people have a higher risk than others, “while others can help protect you from it,” says WebMD.

Geography

The incidence of type 1 diabetes tends to increase as you travel away from the equator. It seems that people who live in northern climates are at a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes. It’s been suggested that people who live in northern countries are indoors more (especially in the winter), and that means that they’re in closer proximity to each other—potentially leading to more viral infections. Conversely, people who live in southern climates—such as South America—are less likely to develop type 1. And along the same lines, researchers have noticed that more cases are diagnosed in the winter in northern countries; the diagnosis rate goes down in the summer.

Age

Although type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, there are two noticeable peaks. The first occurs in children between 4 and 7-years-old, and the second is in children between 10 and 14 years old.

Viral Infections

Researchers have found that certain viruses may trigger the development of type 1 diabetes by causing the immune system to turn against the body—instead of helping it fight infection and sickness. Viruses that are believed to trigger type 1 include German measles, coxsackie, and mumps.

Race and Ethnicity

Certain ethnicities have a higher rate of type 1 diabetes. In the United States, Caucasians seem to be more susceptible to type 1 than African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Chinese people have a lower risk of developing type 1, as do people in South America.

Early Diet

Children who were given cow’s milk at a very young age may have a slightly higher rate of type 1 diabetes. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diet and lifestyle habits don’t cause type 1 diabetes. So this risk factor is debated among experts.

Other Autoimmune Conditions

As explained above, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition because it causes the body’s immune system to turn against itself. There are other autoimmune conditions that may share a similar HLA complex, and therefore, having one of those disorders may make you more likely to develop type 1. Other autoimmune conditions that may increase your risk for type 1 include Graves’ disease, multiple sclerosis, and pernicious anemia.

Conclusion

While type 1 diabetes is certainly less common than its sibling, type 2 diabetes, the severity of symptoms associated with type 1 diabetes, especially if left untreated, make it just as, if not more, dangerous. Type 1 diabetes, unfortunately, shares many symptoms with other conditions and disorders, making it hard to personally diagnose. This is why, upon the onset of anything that could be described as being symptomatic of type 1 diabetes, you should see your doctor immediately just to be safe.