Type 1 Diabetes - What’s New?
Cases of Type 1 Diabetes are rising. Roughly 290,000 people are living with T1D in England and Wales, 8.4 million worldwide. It most often occurs in children and adolescents and accounts for just under 10% of all diabetes cases.
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This means you cannot control your blood sugar levels.
It is usually thought that the only cause is genetics. But whereas genetics certainly provides the susceptibility to T1D, it’s not the whole reason. Less than 10% of those with increased genetic susceptibility actually develop the disease. What we now think is that genetic predisposition sets the stage for environmental or dietary factors to initiate the destructive process. 75% of patients with Type 1 Diabetes have positive antibodies against beta cells or insulin. These antibodies are being produced by the immune system in the gut. So what we need to work out is why the gut immune system has been triggered to produce those antibodies.
What are the possible triggers?
Possible Risk Factors for Type 1 Diabetes.
Viral infection
Food allergens
Chemical or free radical damage
Nutrient Deficiencies
All combined with the genetic predisposition for T1DM.
Viral Infections
Viral infections stimulate the immune system and some can infect the beta cells themselves, possibly triggering a defensive attack by the white blood cells of the immune system.
If the virus is gastrointestinal, this can increase intestinal permeability, increasing the possibility of proteins or other toxic elements passing through into the blood stream, again provoking the immune system for a response.
Poorly Digested Proteins - Dairy? Gluten?
One study found that bovine insulin from cow’s milk can activate the immune system T-cells in those predisposed to diabetes and these T-cells then attack the pancreatic beta-cells.
The highest level of antibodies to cows’ milk is found in people with coeliac disease.
Here’s something else that’s interesting: Patients with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have been breastfed for fewer than 3 months and exposed to cows’ milk or solid foods before they were 4 months old. Early cows’ milk exposure may increase the risk of type 1 diabetes by 1.5 x. Breastfeeding helps establish proper intestinal immune function and reduces the risk of type 1 diabetes.
Chemical or Free Radical Damage
Nitrates in particular have been linked to an increased rate of Type 1 Diabetes. It’s unknown if this is a cause, or whether the T1D leads to susceptibility. Nitrates are found in fertilisers, cured and smoked meats.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Children deficient in vitamin D have a 300% increased risk of developing T1D
Omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies have also been linked to T1D, although as before, it’s not known whether this is cause or effect. What we do know is that fish oils improve cell membrane function, act as a strong antioxidant against damaging free radicals and suppress the formation of inflammatory cytokines by the immune system.
New Developments for T1D
Artificial Pancreas. Last week the NHS announced that they will be rolling out wearable devices with a continuous glucose monitor sensor that transmits data to a body-worn insulin pump in a closed loop system. This makes it a lot easier for people with T1D to stabilise their insulin and sugar levels.
Teplizumab: Approved by the FDA in 2022 because of a study that showed 14 days of the drug delayed the onset of T1D in at-risk children and adults by an average of 3 years.
Need More Information?
If you are affected by Type 1 Diabetes, or any other type of diabetes and would like more information on how nutrition can help, consult with my team of experts. If you are interested in having tests to see whether you are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes we can provide the test and results analysis.