Currently, we do not know of any specific triggers of Type 1 Diabetes, other than the fact that it has a very strong family link.
It is what we call an auto-immune disease, whereby one’s immune system produces “auto-antibodies” to attack and destroy cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. This leads to very little or no insulin production at all.
Due to the lack of insulin production, the body is unable to utilise the sugar efficiently, leading to a “hyperglycaemic or high glucose” state. Onset is usually very young in life and Type 1 Diabetes makes up about 5 to 10% of all diabetic cases.
In contrast, Type 2 Diabetes makes up the majority of diabetic cases and is due to the pancreas not making enough insulin or the body being unable to utilise the insulin efficiently. Onset is usually in the middle-aged group and is generally linked to overweight and obesity and in patients with a
family history of diabetes.
