Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

By editor | July 12, 2007

Type 1 diabetes is an inherited defect of the immune system triggered by an environmental stimuli. The problem may be in the on switch of the immune system in which the viral stimuli do not turn the system on. The virus is then allowed to penetrate the beta cell and cause its destruction. Conversely, the problem may be in the off switch in that the system turns on appropriately and kills the virus but then does not turn itself off. The T, cells are then allowed to attack the beta cells themselves. This is a very simplified explanation. In point of fact, it is much more complex, involving many, many steps in the immune system. The beta cells themselves may contribute to this by producing antigens or chemicals on the cell sur, face that stimulate the immune system, and there may be many other environmental stimuli rather than just viruses. Indeed, there is some evidence now that protein in cows’ milk may cause the formation of antibodies that can attach to the beta cell or that are similar to antibodies on the beta cell. When the immune system mobilizes in response to a stimulus, these antibodies will attach to receptors on the surface of the beta cell causing the damage to occur to the beta cells of the pancreas. For whatever reason, the beta cells are then destroyed by the immune system in what is called an autoimmune phenomena, in which the body has come to recognize itself as a foreign body and begins to eliminate certain parts.

Recently researchers have been attempting to locate the genes for diabetes. As a part of the genome project, in which researchers around the world are attempting to map the entire gene structure of all the human chromosomes, they have isolated 18 genes that appear to be involved in the production of Type 1 diabetes. Not all of these genes have equal potency. Two of them appear to be most potent, some others are least potent, and others are simply auxiliary or helper genes that seem to have some assisting effect in the process. There are also genes which are protective so that one might inherit the genes for diabetes, but if you also inherited the protective genes, you would not develop the disease. Thus, development of the disease is not 100 percent in those who have inherited the genetics for the disease. Those people may have the genes but may either have protector genes or may be fortunate enough to avoid the environmental stimuli.

The cause of Type 1 diabetes, then, is an inherited defect in the immune system that interacts in some way with environmental factors. These factors may be viruses or chemicals in the environment or perhaps other environmental factors that we have not yet identified, which team up together to result in the eventual complete destruction of the beta cells and the loss of insulin secretion.


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