What Causes Type 1 Diabetes
It’s normal to wonder if something you or a loved one did caused type 1 diabetes. However, there’s nothing you could have done to prevent it. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, known as beta cells.
What We Know About Type 1 Diabetes Causes
Scientists don’t yet know the exact cause of type 1 diabetes. While family history and certain genes may increase your risk, having these genes doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop diabetes. In fact, most people with type 1 diabetes don’t have a family history of the condition. Researchers believe that certain environmental factors, such as viruses, could trigger type 1 diabetes.
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes in Children
In children, the causes of type 1 diabetes are the same as in adults. Their immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas, leaving the body unable to produce insulin. Children as young as six months old can develop type 1 diabetes, but if a baby under six months is diagnosed with diabetes, it’s likely to be a different type of diabetes known as neonatal diabetes.
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes in Adults
Although type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood, it can occur at any age. The causes remain the same in adults: the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Regardless of age, individuals with type 1 diabetes need insulin treatment, either through injections or an insulin pump.
Who is at Risk for Type 1 Diabetes?
If someone in your family has type 1 diabetes, there is a slightly higher chance of you or your child developing the condition. However, many people with type 1 diabetes don’t have a family history of the disease.
In Kenya, type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes, but it still affects a significant number of people, especially children and young adults. According to the Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Centre, approximately 10-15% of all diabetes cases in Kenya are type 1. The condition tends to manifest in children and young adults under the age of 25, and it requires lifelong insulin therapy for management.
Kenya faces challenges in diagnosing and managing type 1 diabetes due to limited access to healthcare and insulin in rural areas. For individuals in urban settings, awareness and screening programs are more common, which helps with early diagnosis and treatment.
Scientists have developed a test to help identify who is at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, though it’s currently only available for children aged 3 to 13 in the UK. Expanding access to such testing in Kenya could help identify those at risk earlier, especially in children with a family history of the condition.
Genes and Type 1 Diabetes
Genes play a role in type 1 diabetes, but they don’t act alone. Other factors, such as infections or environmental triggers, are believed to activate the disease in people who are genetically predisposed. In Kenya, type 1 diabetes can be challenging to study due to the country’s diverse population and varying environmental factors that influence health outcomes.
While genetic predisposition is a key risk factor for type 1 diabetes, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Kenya remains relatively low compared to type 2 diabetes. However, research suggests that certain ethnic groups may have a higher genetic susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes. For example, people of Indian and South Asian descent, who make up a portion of Kenya’s population, may be at a higher genetic risk for type 1 diabetes due to their specific genetic makeup.
Kenya is also part of international research efforts exploring how genetic and environmental factors interact to trigger autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes. Limited studies within the country have begun to identify certain viral infections, such as enteroviruses, as potential environmental triggers for the onset of type 1 diabetes in genetically predisposed individuals. More research is needed to fully understand the interplay between genetics and environmental factors in the Kenyan context.
Ruling Out Other Types of Diabetes
If you’ve been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are under 25, and there’s a family history of diabetes, it may be worth speaking to your healthcare team about genetic testing. This is to rule out other types of diabetes like MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young), a rare genetic form of diabetes that requires different treatment.
Research into the Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers around the world, including those in Kenya, are continuously investigating the causes of type 1 diabetes. While there are no definitive answers yet, ongoing studies aim to understand how factors like genetics, viruses, and the environment interact to trigger the condition.
In Kenya, the CliniQuest Research Site at St. Mary’s Mission Hospital plays a significant role in researching non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a special focus on diabetes. As part of its commitment to advancing healthcare, CliniQuest is involved in clinical trials and research that explore the causes and risk factors of type 1 diabetes in Kenyan populations. Their work contributes to the growing body of knowledge on how genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors influence the onset of diabetes in children and adults.
The research conducted at CliniQuest provides valuable insights into the specific challenges faced by the Kenyan population and helps inform better prevention and management strategies for diabetes and other NCDs.