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So...what's the theories?, what causes type 1 in the first place?

LaineyK

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all you experienced type 1s out there!, as a newbie, I cannot help wondering how I contracted this type 1 diabetes of mine! I know it's autoimmune and all my beta have kicked the bucket, but what triggered it, any theories, ideas, knowledge of the ancients???
 
There's so many theories LaineyK and I've give up listening to them, cows milk was one when I was first diagnosed but not heard that one doing the rounds for some time now.
 
I think I've got diabetes type 1 when I caught malaria on my holiday, I was soo ill with it and a few months after I had all the symptoms of diabetes
 
My nurse said it could be from an infection, but I've not really been ill for a while. Had my hair lightened at hairdressers in December...wonder if chemicals entered my blood... I'm just being stupid now eh?
 
Back in 1976 when I was diagnosed the nurse asked my mum if I had "suffered a trauma." The only thing my mum could think of at the time was I took a fall down some stair case.... Aha, said the nurse....

I've given up reiterating the "auto imune" explanation to my mum. Opting for the needle fairy visit in the night story, appeasing it's majesty with urine & blood offerings.. & the occasional slice of cake.. I can't eat it!
 
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Interesting topic @LaineyK . My doctor and i had some interesting conversations about this some years ago.

a theory of mine is that it could have been a 'shock to the system' not a literal shock, but something that happened around you that caused an overwhelming shock to the system. For me this theory could carry some weight, but is of course only a theory.

My dad had 2 dogs (sam & gemma). Both since i was born and i loved them as much as any other family member. Suddenly 1 day my dad had to rush one to the vet, and the vet informed my dad that gemma needed to be put to sleep as she was extremely unwell and was at a point that she would not recover.

My dad informed my mum and she told me. I was distraught and extremely upset and made myself unwell. a few weeks later i was still unwell and was taken to hospital and diagnosed with Type 1...

The shoe fits, but who knows how i really developed Type 1
 
My theory is the immune system mistook the beta cells for a different disease and marked them to be destroyed as long as they are being produced by the pancreas. I'm pretty sure the beta cells are still being produced from the pancreas but the insulin isn't getting the chance to be produced from the beta cells since the white blood cells are continually attacking them (making the immune system effectively a beta blocker). The honeymoon period theoretically might be due to some beta cells holding up their end but slowly losing the fight like a war between the beta cells and the white blood cells.

If this theory proves correct, there is a possibility a stem cell pancreas grown from the same cells of the body would output the same cells as before, and would create an infinite loop. Still just a theory.
 
Over 52years I have heard many theories but I think the jury is still out, but my own opinion is that it's the result of infection.
 
yingtong said:
Over 52years I have heard many theories but I think the jury is still out, but my own opinion is that it's the result of infection.
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I have no idea but i can definitely relate to any possible link
 
Interesting...i must admit I dont know enough about it, its a mystery..
 
Yes, ive heard this also. Thanks for sharing. I cant believe in this day and age they cant pin it down and its just guesswork
 
It's interesting; for me it also followed a highly stressful event. Seems that this is quite common, especially where there is zero family history. I was not ill and had no (known) infection in the weeks (or even months) before diagnosis.

There was an Oxford study on this very topic....but apparently it found no link...
 
yingtong said:
Over 52years I have heard many theories but I think the jury is still out, but my own opinion is that it's the result of infection.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know..I think an infection seems to be the main reason eh? Infection is very "woolly' though
 
pinewood said:
It's interesting; for me it also followed a highly stressful event. Seems that this is quite common, especially where there is zero family history.
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Seems to be high stress/ shock
also . then, thanks for sharing. Do you know, my team haven't even checked in type 1.. Isn't there a test for it?.. But they are 100% sure due to my diagnosed results and ketones were ++++
 
I had trauma and shock before I was diagnosed, then feeling very ill all the time, it was suspected colitis. Then I became type 1 a little later. Throughout the world so many people go through shock, stress, trauma, worries and their body don't attack it's self, so It looks like some people are already pre conditioned to get type 1. Also, it is in my family, my uncle ( on my mum's side) and their mother ? but that's a bit vague because she died when my mum was just 6 years old and uncle was about 4 then.

RRB
 
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