Hi Dale - I think stress does cause Type 1 Diabetes. I was looking after my husband for about 16 years. He had MS and could not move or talk, so it was quite strenuous work. I was 37 when I got Type 1 Diabetes and my Specialist at the time said that the strain and stress of caring was likely to be the cause. I myself think that could have been the cause but no-one can be 100% sure.
My father had Type 1 and he feels he got it after serving in the middle east as a fighter pilot - lots of stress on the body - not much protection or understanding in those days - 1950's.
My son now also has it - he suffered a mental breakdown - GAD after his twin brother was diagnosed with OCD and was very ill/self harm. I've asked the docs the question what came first - was the mental breakdown sypmtomatic of the body under strain with impending diabetes or mental illness made body weak - either way my son suffered major trauma ! Docs say don't know but would have certainly been experiencing type 1 issues at a lower level for up to a year before crisis and final diagnosis - ie light headed/ poor eating - lots of sugar, low energy, loss concentration - he dealt with it through bad thinking patterns that heighted his anxiety - his brother and going to unie . He returned from unie at breakdown - had decent meals and routine - I think that held type 1 at bay for a while . then he got a temp job in a bar with erratic hours and of course eating - then bang - type 1 diagnosed.
Type 1 is an autoimmune disease - some people are susceptible more than others - big stresses - mental, emotional, environmental - weaken the body and if your immunity is weak then bang .... ill! .
My son with OCD is a biochemist and like all the good adage - he firmly believes in keeping the body strong and listening to it as it's an amazing system that can self correct ..... to a point I think now. Hopefully one day he'll find out with all his biochemistry study! then maybe cure his brother , himself and my sister who has schizophrenia.
Robert_Blair
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I agree. I apparently had Type 1 in a very mild almost latent form, but after 3 months of extreme financial stress I was so ill I was rushed to hospital and was diagnosed Type 1
emmay
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Hi, I was diagnosed 7 years ago when I was 12 weeks pregnant, my consultant said that I was more than likely to get type 1 diabetes but the strain of being pregnant (with twins) probably bought it on sooner? So in my case it's more a case of stress on the body.
Steve14
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I was diagnosed after going through the most stressful period of my life (marital problems). I lost my Dad as a teen and that was extremely stressful to me, but the past 2 years have brought me to my knees like nothing before. We have a news anchor in my home country who is type 1. She tells everyone that she was going through a very stressful time in college, and shortly after received the diagnosis.
pjwe1275
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Hi I damaged my back whilst in the army ,I got medical discharge it destroyed me a year later I developed type 1,i to was 26 haven't got much time at moment ,but I definitely have chat with you mate
pjwe1275
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And yes I to have been diagnosed with PTSD I'm 46 now I'm sure the stress brought it on .
jakay42
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Had an op to remove my gall bladder and six weeks later (although I had theT1 symptoms probably right after the op) at the ripe young age of 56 consultant sat on the age of the hospital bed and gave me the good news!!! That I had T1.
Jakay
Kristyturnerrogers
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I was diagnosed at age 11 after a severe bout of pneumonia that nearly killed me. I don't think it caused it, but the stress made it more obvious. I had been having minor symptoms before it.
richyb
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I was bullied at school by pupils and had unjustifiable beatings from a large teacher when I was at school. Think this was my cause. About a year of this and I became type 1. I was 13 at the time. 50 years ago. Eventually my parents went to see headmaster, the teacher then stopped giving me punishment.
dtennant9
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I was diagnosed during the most stressful period of my life when it was just coming to a head, the adoption of our Son. There are/were a couple of other members of my family that have Type 1, an Aunt and Grandmother, but I always feel that this event in my life maybe brought it on in me.
Wurst
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I was diagnosed shortly after a really stressful period at work. Additionally I had chronic insomnia at the time. I believe this combination triggered my T1 but have no proof etc.
Diamattic
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Hey @Dale1986 !
Yes and No....
I would wager a bet that increased stress doesn't help, but diabetes has a genetic component to it - you have to have the genes in place that would allow you develop it in the first place, but WHEN and IF you ever develop it is anyones guess - so perhaps the high stress would pull a trigger on starting the process.
Many T1D were diagnosed as children, or young adults - So i would have to say there is much lower stress on a normal 6 year old then when you were diagnosed so to me that rules it out as THE cause, it still could be A cause or partial.
I would say this (with no medical training...) You were susceptible and had the genes, and could have been on fence with your body just scraping by and then the stress may have been that last straw... i could see that, mostly because stress never helps anything.
Yes and No....
I would wager a bet that increased stress doesn't help, but diabetes has a genetic component to it - you have to have the genes in place that would allow you develop it in the first place, but WHEN and IF you ever develop it is anyones guess - so perhaps the high stress would pull a trigger on starting the process.
Many T1D were diagnosed as children, or young adults - So i would have to say there is much lower stress on a normal 6 year old then when you were diagnosed so to me that rules it out as THE cause, it still could be A cause or partial.
I would say this (with no medical training...) You were susceptible and had the genes, and could have been on fence with your body just scraping by and then the stress may have been that last straw... i could see that, mostly because stress never helps anything.
At the age of 64 I was diagnosed in February this year, type1. For over a year had been very worried and involved in caring for a very ill close family member. So I would say that for me it is possible that it was a factor in me developing type 1 diabetes. However I have vitiligo and an underactive thyroid which I now know are two other autoimmune conditions that are often found together with type 1 diabetes!! So having those would have made me more likely to develop type 1 diabetes.
I have been coping very well thankfully and hope that you are doing well too!
