Here's a quick question: what causes type 1 diabetes? Is it eating too much fat and sugary food? No. Is it genetic? Well, sort of. Do we even know? Not really. While we know lots more about type 1 diabetes than we did 20 or even 10 years ago, the truth is we still don't know the precise causes of type 1 diabetes. And the general public has even less of an idea about what causes it.
Many people think that diabetes type 1is caused by a bad diet or lifestyle because they don't understand the difference between diabetes type 1 and type 2. Whereas diabetes type 2 usually affects people later on in life, and often as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle, type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. This is why a disproportionate number of people with type 2 diabetes are obese, and why people with type 1 diabetes aren't.
There is some evidence to suggest that genetics can play a part in determining whether someone will develop type 1 diabetes or not. However, in sets of identical twins it is more common for just one of the twins to have type 1 diabetes despite sharing exactly the same genes. This shows that it cannot only be down to genetics and that other factors must also play their part.
One theory suggests that type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune response caused by a virus. In other cases certain chemicals have been shown to increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes such as Vacor, a rodenticide, which has been banned in many countries.
Although we might not know the causes of type 1 diabetes we know all about the devastating complications that can arise; especially when the condition isn't managed properly. Type 1 diabetes usually shortens someone's life expectancy by around 15 years. Until we know what causes type 1 diabetes we can't hope to find a way to prevent it, let alone cure it.
Many people think that diabetes type 1is caused by a bad diet or lifestyle because they don't understand the difference between diabetes type 1 and type 2. Whereas diabetes type 2 usually affects people later on in life, and often as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle, type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. This is why a disproportionate number of people with type 2 diabetes are obese, and why people with type 1 diabetes aren't.
There is some evidence to suggest that genetics can play a part in determining whether someone will develop type 1 diabetes or not. However, in sets of identical twins it is more common for just one of the twins to have type 1 diabetes despite sharing exactly the same genes. This shows that it cannot only be down to genetics and that other factors must also play their part.
One theory suggests that type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune response caused by a virus. In other cases certain chemicals have been shown to increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes such as Vacor, a rodenticide, which has been banned in many countries.
Although we might not know the causes of type 1 diabetes we know all about the devastating complications that can arise; especially when the condition isn't managed properly. Type 1 diabetes usually shortens someone's life expectancy by around 15 years. Until we know what causes type 1 diabetes we can't hope to find a way to prevent it, let alone cure it.
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