If you or your child have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you might be wondering why it happened. You might even be worrying that something you did caused it. It is important to know that type 1 diabetes is not your fault, and it’s not caused by eating too much sugar, being overweight or not exercising enough. The exact type 1 diabetes causes are not yet fully understood. We know that the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin and genes can be part of it but researchers are also looking at other possible causes.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a type of autoimmune condition, and this means that the immune system goes on the attack and destroys healthy cells mistakenly. In type 1 diabetes, it affects the beta cells in the pancreas. These are the cells that make insulin, and they help glucose (sugar) move from the blood into the cells to be used for energy. When these cells are damaged, the body cannot make enough insulin, and that’s why people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. There is more information about the condition in the NHS guide to type 1 diabetes.
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
Unfortunately, we don’t really know yet. We do know about the attack on the insulin-making cells in the pancreas, but we haven’t determined why this happens to some people and not to others. Researchers think that it is probably a mix of genetics and things in the environment and possible causes include some viral infections and changes to the bacteria that live in our gut. However, these things are still being researched. There is no single food, virus or lifestyle choice that has been proven to cause type 1 diabetes. Diabetes UK has more information about research into what causes type 1 diabetes.
Is Type 1 Diabetes Genetic?
Your genes can increase your chances of getting type 1 diabetes but having these genes does not mean someone will definitely develop the condition. Having a family member with type 1 diabetes can increase your risks but many people with type 1 diabetes have no family history of it at all. This means that genetics are one of the type 1 diabetes risk factors but they are not the only cause.
What Are the Type 1 Diabetes Risk Factors?
The main type 1 diabetes risk factors include:
- Your risk is higher if a close family member has type 1 diabetes.
- Certain genes can make someone more likely to develop the condition.
- Researchers believe that something in the environment may trigger the condition in people who are already at higher risk.
- Some viruses are also being studied as possible triggers.
Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age and it is often diagnosed in children and young people but having one of these risk factors does not mean you will develop type 1 diabetes. Many people who are diagnosed with it have no obvious risk factors.
Is Type 1 Diabetes Caused By Diet?
No, your diet will not cause you to start developing type 1 diabetes. Eating sweets or having a diet high in sugar does not cause the immune system to damage the pancreas. The same is true of not exercising enough, and this is an important difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet is still important if you have type 1 diabetes because food can affect your blood sugar and the amount of insulin you need.
Can a Virus Cause Type 1 Diabetes?
Some studies have found a link between type 1 diabetes and certain viruses, including enteroviruses. Scientists are investigating whether an infection could trigger the immune system to start to attack the pancreas cells. However, this doesn’t mean that catching a particular virus will cause type 1 diabetes. More research is needed before we know whether, and how, viral infections may have any role in the condition.
Can Type 1 Diabetes Develop in Adults?
Yes, type 1 diabetes can develop at any age. It is often diagnosed in childhood, but adults can develop it too. Sometimes adults are thought to have type 2 diabetes because of their age before finding out that it is actually type 1 diabetes instead.
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes in Children?
The type 1 diabetes causes in children are the same as in adults. Parents sometimes worry that their child’s diet or lifestyle caused their diabetes, but there is no evidence that this is the case. There is also nothing a parent could have done to stop or know that their child would develop type 1 diabetes.
Can Type 1 Diabetes be Prevented?
At the moment, there is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes from happening. Changing your diet, exercising more or losing weight cannot stop the autoimmune process that causes it. Researchers are still working hard to understand what causes type 1 diabetes. Their hope is that a better understanding of type 1 diabetes will eventually lead to ways of preventing, delaying or treating the condition.
FAQs
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
The exact type 1 diabetes causes are not known. We know that the immune system damages the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and that genetics and environmental factors might both be part of the reason people develop the condition.
Is Type 1 Diabetes Caused by Lifestyle?
No, type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet, sugar, being overweight or not enough exercise. It is a type of autoimmune condition.
What are the Main Type 1 Diabetes Risk Factors?
The main type 1 diabetes risk factors include family history and genes that some people might have. Researchers are also now looking at environmental factors, including some viral infections. Having these risk factors, however, doesn’t mean that someone will definitely develop type 1 diabetes.
