Thoughts On The Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes

By Toby Dushieney

There is no certain thought as to how type 1 diabetes is contracted. However, it is thought possible that 90% of cases are contracted by a virus, and indeed research has isolated a number of suspected viruses, nearly all of which are thought to be responsible for the common cold. It may well be, that if an individual's genetic makeup is such, they may contract this disease by simply coming into contact with someone who has a cold.

For the other 10% it can be as a result of the autoimmune destruction of beta cells.

So how does this work?

If an individual's genetic makeup is such that they have a variation in their chromosomes they may be prone to an autoimmune disease. If their immune system believes that insulin is actually attacking the body, rather than being the essential hormone that it is, the immune system will destroy it, resulting in type 1 diabetes.

Also, type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in people who have abnormalities in their DNA. It has been found that certain characteristics in chromosomes are present, which are not present in people who do not have diabetes. It is possible to observe these abnormalities and wait to see if diabetes is later contracted, but simply having these abnormalities does not guarantee you will get diabetes.

Another determinant as to whether or not you contract type 1 diabetes concerns the environment, and the cold analogy above. A great deal of research on patients in the early stages of type 1 has suggested a number of different viruses that may be responsible for triggering this type of diabetes.

It is believed that one or several viruses have the capacity to attack the pancreas, the gland that produces insulin. In turn that virus is then attacked by body's immune system. Now if the virus contains a substance that occurs naturally in the pancreas, the immune system's antibodies that fight the virus will then also affect this substance in the pancreas, with the same consequences as if the virus had attacked the pancreas directly.

Finally, although not yet proven, some scientists think that there may be chemicals in cows milk that cause diabetes. This is another area of research that is yet to be properly explored.

The author of this article is diabetic and understands the side effects of this disease which can be devastating.

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