Genetic predisposition plays an important role in the development of type 1 diabetes, but not every person predisposed to it develops the disease. For the occurrence of a disease, triggers are needed – infectious and non-infectious environmental factors. Under the influence of triggers, autoimmune processes are launched and antibodies to the body’s own cells begin to be produced, including insulin and the cells of the pancreas, which produces this insulin.
Infectious triggers include enteroviruses, rotaviruses, rubella viruses, chickenpox, mumps, viral hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, etc. Among the non-infectious triggers that can lead to type 1 diabetes in a predisposed person are dietary components (gluten, soy, glucose), feeding a young child with cow’s milk or mixed food based on cow’s milk, exposure to heavy metals, nitrites/nitrates, substancesundefined toxic to beta cells. In addition, psychosocial factors (stress), ultraviolet radiation, temperature/seasonality play a role.
As a result of autoimmune processes, the beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed, insulin ceases to be produced, and absolute insulin deficiency occurs. Clinically, the disease manifests itself when more than 80% of beta cells are destroyed. undefined