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Causes
Most cases of type 1 diabetes are caused by the body's immune system attacking and destroying the islet cells that make insulin. These cells are in the pancreas. The current theory is that some people have genes that make them prone to getting type 1 diabetes. For these people, certain things in the environment may trigger an immune system attack on the pancreas. The trigger or triggers have yet to be identified, but may be certain viruses, foods, or chemicals.
Some studies suggest that an enterovirus infection—which is common and usually causes diarrhea and fever with or without rash—may contribute to the development of diabetes in some children. Children with relatively high birth weights are more likely to get diabetes than are those with lower weights.
How Type 1 Diabetes Occurs
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Risk Factors
These factors increase your chance of developing type 1 diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:
- Family history (parent, sibling) of type 1 diabetes
- Age: starts at age 4 with peak at ages 11-13
- Sex: more common in males than females
- Ethnicity: Northern European, Mediterranean, African Americans, Hispanics
- Bottle-feeding or short duration of breastfeeding
- Risk increases with increase in birth weight
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Other autoimmune illness, including:
- Hashimoto's disease (thyroid disease)
- Graves' disease (thyroid disease)
- Addison's disease (disorder of the adrenal glands)
- Pernicious anemia
- Celiac disease (autoimmune disease of the digestive tract)
- Vitiligo (disorder that affects the skin cells)
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.