Type 1 Diabetes
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Type 1 Diabetes
Cause
Type 1 diabetes develops because the body's
immune system destroys the beta cells which are in the
islet tissue in the
pancreas
. These beta cells produce insulin. So people
with type 1 diabetes cannot make their own insulin.
You can inherit a tendency to develop type 1 diabetes, but most people who have the disease have no family history of it. Diabetes experts believe that a genetic tendency and some environmental factors may increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Possible environmental factors include enteroviral infections—especially Coxsackie B infections.
Despite concerns about vaccines (particularly those against whooping cough and Haemophilus influenza B, or Hib), studies have not found a relationship between being vaccinated and developing type 1 diabetes.1
Last Updated:
November 21, 2006- Author:
- Robin Parks, MS
- Medical Review:
- Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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