Risk Factors Type I Diabetes

Type I Diabetes is not as common as Type II and only 5-10% of total diabetic people suffer from Type I diabetes. It is prevalent mostly in children and teenagers. Type I Diabetes is most common in patients of Caucasian decent. Most of the patients with Type I Diabetes are diagnosed when they are less than 30 years of age. Type I Diabetes occurs due to low production or non-production of insulin by pancreas. It is an autoimmune disease. In this type of Diabetes insulin producing beta cells in pancreas are destroyed by patient’s body’s immune system. It is also known as Juvenile Diabetes as it starts early in its patients. There are many risk factors, which elevates chances of development of Type I Diabetes in a patient.

A family history

A patient, who has a family history of Type I Diabetes, is more prone to developing this disease. Having a parent or sibling with type I diabetes increases the risk of developing Type I Diabetes.

Genetics

Other risk factor increasing risk of developing Type I Diabetes is genes or genetics. The presence of certain genes could trigger development of Type I Diabetes in a patient.

Geography

People residing away from the equator are at higher risk of developing Type I Diabetes. It is evident with the statistics of diabetes distribution worldwide that geography also affects development of Type I diabetes. Residents of Finland and Sardinia demonstrate highest incidence of Type I Diabetes. They are at almost two to three times higher risk of developing Type I Diabetes compared to United States.

Race

Race also affects development of Type I Diabetes. People with certain ethinicity or origin are at higher risk of developing Type I Diabetes. White people have higher rate of risk of development of Type I Diabetes, when compared to black, Asian, or Hispanic people. This disease is most common in people of non-Hispanic, Northern European especially from Finland and Sardinian descent. African Americans and Hispanic Americans are also at higher risk of developing Type I Diabetes. Whereas as people with Asian descent are at low risk of developing Diabetes Type I. This type of Diabetes is more common in men compared to women.

Presence of Islet Cell Antibodies in the Blood

Presence of Islet cell antibodies in the blood increases risk of developing Type I Diabetes. Risk elevates, if the patient has a family history of Type I Diabetes too.

Viral Infection

Some viral infections are also associated with development of Type I Diabetes. Epstein-Barr virus, coxsackievirus, mumps virus or cytomegalo virus are some such virus, which can trigger the autoimmune destruction of the islet cells or infect the islet cells, resulting into Type I Diabetes. Infection with these viruses could act as a catalyst for development of Type I Diabetes.

Low vitamin D levels

Some researches reveal if a patient has low level of Vitamin D, then he is more likely to develop Type I Diabetes as vitamin D acts as a protective agent against Type I Diabetes.

Other dietary factors

Dietary factors also guide early or delayed onset of Type I Diabetes. Omega-3 fatty acids are said to protect against Type I Diabetes. Nitrates in drinking water increases risk of developing Type I Diabetes. Early introduction of cereals into infant diet may also increase risk of developing Type I Diabetes.

Being Ill in Early Infancy

Being ill in early infancy could also trigger onset of Type I Diabetes as it weakens the immune system and thus patient becomes more prone to develop autoimmune diseases.

Having an Older Mother

Children born to older mothers are at higher risk of developing Type I Diabetes. Pregnancy in advanced age exposes the child to risk of Type I Diabetes. If a patient has suffered from preeclampsia during pregnancy, it increases the chances that baby will develop Type I Diabetes later in life. Children being born with jaundice or having respiratory infection just after birth have increased risk of Type I Diabetes.

Other Autoimmune Disorders

If a patient is suffering other autoimmune diseases such as Grave’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Addison’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or pernicious anemia, he is at higher risk of developing Type I diabetes.
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