I have long thought that type 1 diabetes has both a genetic and environmental component. I was diagnosed after a long road trip with my family. I think the stress on my body from eating mostly junk food for a few days and the stress of the long car trip were the factors which overwhelmed my immune system. There is most definitely a genetic factor though. One of my two sisters, my father, and my nephew have it too.

I read that your body displays certain surface proteins for each cell. These proteins are thought to resemble certain viruses, causing an autoimmune response. Your body's immune system thinks it's being invaded by disease, and attacks, not realizing it's killing it's own cells - b...

I have long thought that type 1 diabetes has both a genetic and environmental component. I was diagnosed after a long road trip with my family. I think the stress on my body from eating mostly junk food for a few days and the stress of the long car trip were the factors which overwhelmed my immune system. There is most definitely a genetic factor though. One of my two sisters, my father, and my nephew have it too.

I read that your body displays certain surface proteins for each cell. These proteins are thought to resemble certain viruses, causing an autoimmune response. Your body's immune system thinks it's being invaded by disease, and attacks, not realizing it's killing it's own cells - beta (insulin producing) cells. Clearly, closely related people would have similar surface proteins.

I think, someday, they'll be able to identify there surface proteins and immunize againts diabetes.
Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and it is estimated that 6.5 percent of the population is affected. The real problem is that people can live a long time without detecting it.