Type 1 diabetes causes
We don’t fully understand the causes of type 1 diabetes, but we do know there are a few factors at play.
What causes type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the immune system attacking the beta cells, which produce insulin. Research is ongoing to identify what causes this attack—and how to stop it.
Type 1 diabetes risk factors
Genes and family history
Certain genes increase the likelihood of an individual developing T1D, as can a family history of the condition. If you have an immediate family member with type 1 diabetes, your chances of developing the condition are 1 in 20, which is 15 times higher than the general population.
Environmental triggers
Environmental factors, including viruses, are another factor behind T1D onset. Some researchers believe that certain viruses may specifically target beta cells, and as the body’s immune response tries to combat these viruses, it may mistakenly attack and damage the beta cells.
Immune response
Once T1D is triggered, the body starts attacking the beta cells, which produce insulin. This attack can be detected through biochemical signs called autoantibodies, which appear well before any symptoms of type 1 diabetes are observed. As the immune system continues to attack and destroy more beta cells, insulin production decreases, leading to abnormal blood-sugar levels. Eventually, the number of destroyed beta cells becomes so high, and insulin production drops so low, that symptoms start to appear.
Type 1 diabetes diagnosis statistics
1 in 20
People with a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes who will also develop the condition
85%
Percentage of diagnoses in people who have no family members with the disease
10-14
The age at which most type 1 diabetes diagnoses occur
T1D cannot be prevented through diet or exercise
It is important to understand that type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet. However, certain dietary factors might be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Similarly, the risk of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis is not influenced by factors such as lifestyle, activity level, or socioeconomic status.
More T1D basics
Common warning signs of type 1 diabetes
Therapies for treating T1D
Types of insulin and administration methods
Tests and other factors that lead to a type 1 diabetes diagnosis
Answers to your questions about type 1 diabetes
Statistics on T1D in the U.S. and around the world
Research to cure type 1 diabetes
We envision a world where the burden of type 1 diabetes no longer exists.
It’s a world where people don’t have to manage their diabetes—don’t take insulin, don’t have blood-sugar highs and lows, and don’t develop complications.
That’s how we define cures for type 1 diabetes, and it requires continual advancement on three fronts: early detection, disease-modifying therapies, and cell therapies.
