Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disorder in which our immune system destroys the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells (known as an autoimmune response).

Note: Symptoms of diabetes appear when 85 - 90% of beta cells are destroyed

• The specific combination of genes contributes to type 1 diabetes.
• Presence of these genes makes people susceptible to type 1 diabetes.
• The risk of type 1 diabetes is higher for relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes, but > 85% of patients with type 1 diabetes do not have a family member with the disease.

The lifetime risk of developing type 1 diabetes:

• Sibling - 6%
• Mother - 2%
• Father - 4.6%
• Both parents have diabetes - 10%

Environmental factors trigger the autoimmune response in a genetically predisposed individual. The likely environmental factors are:

• Gestational infections in mother during pregnancy.
• Viral infections like mumps, rubella, enteroviruses, rotavirus.
• Early introduction of bovine milk, cereals, high protein food.
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Intake of high-calorie food and weight gain
• Psychologic stress like child-parent separation
• Toxic substances like alloxan, streptozocin causing direct beta-cell damage.