Although there is no known cause for juvenile diabetes there are risk factors that can
contribute to the likeliness a child will be diagnosed with the disease. As some forms of
type 1 diabetes are an autoimmune disease you can be at a higher risk if you have already
been diagnosed with a different autoimmune disease. There are also some conditions
surrounding a mother’s pregnancy and labor than could contribute to the diagnosis of
juvenile diabetes.
If your child has been diagnosed with one of these autoimmune disease he or she is
considered at a higher risk for diabetes in childhood:
* If your child has had one of these viruses: hepatitis, mumps, or CMV disease
* Thyroid problems known as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism (or Graves
disease)
* Celiac disease
There has been some evidence that has shown that a child born to a mother over the age
of 35 could be at higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes. This is not conclusive and it
is not to say that a child born to a younger mother is not at risk as well. Some studies
indicate that a mother who had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy will give birth to a baby
with a higher risk of being diagnosed – but this is not a proven fact.
Other risk factors include race – people from Northern Europe or areas of the
Mediterranean – are considered at higher risk than other races. Environmental and
dietary factors can play a role too. If a child is under a lot of stress it is considered a
reason why he or she may go onto develop type 1 diabetes. Dietary risks factors include
high levels of dairy and nitrosamines (used as a preservative in some meats and cheeses).
Exposure to toxins is considered a risk factor too.