The Causes of Diabetes Type I

Typically, type I diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is diagnosed in young individuals including children, adolescents and young adults under age 30. However, people older than 30 years may also suffer from juvenile diabetes, but the condition is quite uncommon. In the United States, nearly half to one million people are suffering from diabetes type I. Genetic structuring, life experience and exposure to environmental stimuli are the common causes of diabetes type I.

Genetic Structuring

Although diabetes is not inherited from parents in the same way that biological or personality traits or some other diseases are inherited, a significant genetic relation can be possibly identified as one of the major causes of diabetes type I. Individuals having first degree relative such as parent or siblings or offspring with diabetes are highly vulnerable towards developing diabetes than individuals having no such family history.

So far, scientists have not identified the exact genetic causes of diabetes type I, however they affirm many genes have been associated to the formation of type I diabetes. Together this group of genes is known as HLA complex. HLA complex carries the genetic design for producing proteins engaged in the immune system's reaction to foreign matters.

Specific HLA gene combinations are mostly prevalent among individuals having diabetes type I. However, till date researchers could not identify the exact reason behind the vulnerability of those people towards diabetes I who are having specific HLA combinations. Although specific genetic structuring may be an indicator, this is not possibly the entire character defining the causes of diabetes. Many individuals having the same HLA combination but never have developed such complication.

Genetic structuring can not ensure the formation of diabetes type I disease, even if it is present within the family. However, many people develop it without any apparent possibility of having any first degree relation with diabetes. In addition, it does not even ensure if one identical twin is having diabetes I, the other must have. In fact, there is only 50-50 chance for the other one to develop such complication. Quite obviously, non-genetic factors also play vital role.

Environmental Factors

If an individual is having risky HLA genetic structuring, then his life experiences and exposure to environmental factors may turn out to be the obvious causes of diabetes development. However, not all environmental factor have been identified yet, few are marked as highly vulnerable.

One common factor is of course a viral infection, such as typical childhood respiratory infection or diarrhea infection. One or cluster of virus may become able to stimulate the immune system in such a fashion that causes the system to affect the pancreas adversely with the same antibodies or immune cells that combat the viral infection.

During research studies, antibodies have been identified that could be considered for this kind of autoimmune response. Islet cell antibodies are classified mostly prevalent among individuals suffering from type I diabetes. The islet cell antibodies can cause serious harm to pancreas.

There are other possible environmental causes of diabetes as well. Scientific studies show that there is a correlation between exposure to cow's milk in infancy and diabetes. However, much more researches need to be conducted to ascertain the possibilities between infant's diet and the development of diabetes in later ages.

Additionally, certain illness may also be considered as significant causes of diabetes. The most common among all these illnesses is pancreatitis which may result in pancreas destruction due to severe inflammation in the pancreas. Alcohol abuse, gallstones, unusually high level of calcium, and others may lead to develop pancreatitis.

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