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March 16, 2007
The Staggering Rise of Type 1 Diabetes
The increased incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in children under the age of five is staggering:
The number of British children under five diagnosed with a specific type of diabetes has risen five-fold over 20 years due to unidentified environmental factors, a study said on Friday.Researchers are mystified but were not at all bashful about giving their opinions. Here's one theory:[snip]
"This could either mean that we are being exposed to something new, or that we now have reduced exposure to something that was previously controlling our immune responses," said Professor Polly Bingley from Bristol University.
"We now need to work to identify what these changes might be," she added.
The soaring rates of type 1 diabetes in children can be attributed to the better hygiene conditions, which prevent them from being exposed to infections, according to new research by The Bristol University.
And another:
The Bristol University team blame genes and environmental factors, including breastfeeding rates.And another by the same investigator:(...) Lead researcher Professor Polly Bingley said the rate of childhood Type 1 diabetes was increasing all over Europe, particularly in the very young.
(...) She suggested that fewer mums opting to breastfeed their babies might be a factor.
Scientists are considering the theory that hygienic Western lifestyles, with infants raised in households that are "too clean", could be a factor in the increase.Actually, this final is a repeat of the first but reported in a different manner. It's quite interesting how media outlets are gravitating to different theories despite the lack of clear evidence. Headlines suggest "Better hygiene conditions responsible for soaring rates of Type " and "Too healthy children can get diabetes". Yet there are a myriad of correlations which exist between the rise of Type 1 Diabetes, environmental conditions and the lifestyle. Before we assume any one of them is the dominant factor further investigation seems pertinent. For example, prior to blaming the rise of the disease on a decrease in breastfeeding couldn't researchers actually perform the investigation?
I've yet to find the original research report supporting the findings but the announcement by Diabetes UK is here.
Posted by Diabetologica at March 16, 2007 1:06 PM
Comments
As I blogged myself a while back, (redinktexas.blogspot. com/2007/02/sea-change-coming-in-type-i-diabetes.html) Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disorder as everyone well knows. Researchers have found three antibodies that are present in at least 70%, and possibly as many as 90% of all type 1 cases. This then puts early diabetes diagnosis before frank symptoms appear within the realm of possibility.
Early diagnosis, before frank symptoms occur raises the possibility that symptoms could be delayed and potentially prevented by the use of immunomodulator drugs to prevent further damage to the islet cells.
I would expect to see similar rises in asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and other autoimmune diseases as well.
Posted by: Rorschach at March 16, 2007 2:06 PM
The government should be persuaded to pay for all healthcare
Posted by: lotensin 5 at June 27, 2007 4:20 PM