New data shows incidence of type 1 is rising
Research released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate that an average of 2100 Australians are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year, a large proportion of which are children aged between 0-14 years.
Australia has one of the highest incidences of type 1 diabetes in the world for reasons that are currently unknown – but with 9 in 10 people with type 1 having no apparent family connection to the disease, scientists strongly believe in the involvement of an unidentified environmental trigger.
According to JDRF Head of Research Development, Dr Dorota Pawlak, a number of suspects have been scrutinised including early exposure to cows milk, gut bacteria, viral infection and vitamin D levels.
Dr Dorota Pawlak
“Globally, scientists are learning more all the time about the complex genetic and environmental causes of this disease, and clinical trials aimed at identifying the environmental component are underway in the US and Europe.”
“It is likely, however, that different environmental triggers may have varying impact depending on geographical location – a good example of this is the “hygiene hypothesis” where it appears that the more sanitised the country, the higher the rate of type 1 diabetes.”
“Large-scale research trials such as the TEDDY Study aim to deliver initial results by 2020, but the lack of Australian participation means those results may not reflect environmental triggers affecting local kids.”
Mike Wilson - JDRF CEO
JDRF CEO, Mike Wilson, says that this report provides strong evidence for the urgent need for Australia to invest in clinical trials to prevent new cases and deliver a cure for the 122,300 Australians known to be living with type 1 diabetes already.
“Australian type 1 diabetes researchers are internationally respected and have led a number of international trials in the past.”
“The number of Australian patients participating in clinical trials has been diminishing despite the growth in new clinical trials overseas.”
“Australian children continue to suffer high incidence rates of this debilitating condition compared to other countries so a lack of access to clinical trials is a major concern.”
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Interesting that this is shown today. We have heard over the past few days on ABC news and 1377MTR that the levels of Type 1 has "leveled out".
Thanks for making this information clear and hopefully ABC news and 1377MTR will also read this.
Thanks for your comment.
Technically, the media reports were correct. Incidence of type 1 diabetes in Australian children has stablised over the last couple of years compared to the dramatic increase in incidence seen from 1999-2003.
The reasons behind these fluctuations are unclear – they could be a statistical artifact or caused by changes in the environment – but what is clear is that more information is needed before scientists can provide any definite answers.
JDRF please could you read these two links, one from bigpond.com news http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Health/2010/08/05...
and the other from the Australian Government. http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2010/mr2010080... It's not just about the so called "stabilising issue" there are things in the article especially the first link like “evidence to suggest obesity in early childhood could stress insulin producing cells”?? which is just wrong and upsetting to parents of diabetes 1 sufferers, and will cause more confusion in the general community.
Kyleigh, the first article you cited actually states further down:
"Vitamin D deficiency and increasing obesity can be ruled out though. They are influential early in life so any change wouldn't have flowed through to diabetes rates yet. "
Interesting – not sure I'd agree with the 'hygiene hypothesis'tho' – at least in my own case – I was always poking around in swamps and ditches as a kid and have an extremely strong immune system, never get 'flu', and rarely get infected wounds. I thought Type 1 was an auto-immune disease anyway – more likely to have a link to an overactive immune system? One other possible link to relatively high numbers of people with T1 which never gets talked about is we now survive long enough to breed. If I'd been born 20 years or so earlier I probably would have died. The result – these dodgy genes floating around in the population – whether expressed as T1 Diabetes or not if they lack the other preconditions or genes, so it's not surprising that the genetics and environmental T1 factors crop up more often. I made a decision when I was a kid to not have any of my own as my own fight to prevent the spread – I've kept my word to myself but it required a very understanding partner. It would be nice however to die as a NON diabetic so I still look forward to a cure…
S
M
Hi, our youg lad was diagnosed with T1 at 1 and a half years old. He was breast fed for 8 months and we lived on a farm where he played in the dirt where animals are a lot and we have 2 dogs which he was always around. He was born 9 pound 10 but we never consisered him obese at any time. not ruling these posibilities out but they don't seem to fit our situation. Our boy did go to england for 7 weeks at the age of 6 months old, this is all I can think he did but due to the popularity of this condition in Aus I don't see a connection there either. Nice to read peoples opinions. Jason
Interesting i came out as an english migrant when 8yo and diagnosed as a diabetic Type 1 when 23yo the only one in my family, brother and his children no and parents not. Also they were seeking participants for a trial who were children of a diabetic, they had to have a test to see if they had a gene making them susceptable to developing Diabetes my three were not acceptable?
the above mentioned number of suspects and triggers have been bantered around for years and years and years …!!! so what is new ???.. my 13 year old son was diagnosed at the age of 22 months …… and he does not fit any of the so-called categories. my son was born in germany and came to australia when he was 11 months old ….
all i can say is that in our case .. diabetes was diagnosed precisely 3-4 mths following infant required vaccination in australia !!!!!… and so has been the case for many others.
the complexity of the genetic, the auto-immune, and the environment factors are clearly not understood by researchers.
it is a very sad case that T1 diabetes does not get the global community focus it desrves.
it is a very sad case that T! diabetes is still compartpentalised and associatd with Type 2 diabetes.
perhaps this chronic illness should be re-named for a more intelligent approach toward a CURE …..
… too much focus on 'prevention' does not use the $$$$ raised, for the purpose intended.
Martyn,
I have a sister that has T1 and 3 adult children without diabetes however my daughter and my brother's daughter have T1. Her breeding at this stage hasn't created another T1. Maybe the "dodgy genes" came from my parents – they had 4 non diabetes kids too tho!
My son was also diagoned with T1 4 years ago (as a 9yo). There is no other family member with any form of diabetes. He was 9lb 9 oz at birth (3 weeks early). He had always been at the higher end of the statistical charts, but at no stage was he obese or even overweight.
In a later pregnancy I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and often wonder if that was also the case when I was pregnant with my son. Testing wasn't routinely offered back then as it is now.
He was also a bed wetter and was put on medication to assist with this approx 12 months before being diagnosed. I was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes in a later pregnancy, however that child has participated in 2 different studies now and has been found NOT to have the gene they are looking at. (not to say they are looking for the right one though). Co-incidently she is also a bed wetter and I have steadfastly refused to allow medication for this, despite pressure from other areas.
Can't help but wonder if what if …
My 7 year old daughter was diagnosed with T1 diabetes 2 weeks ago and my husband (38) was diagnosed 3 weeks before my daughter. No one in the family has T1diabetes, but my mother- in-law has an over active thyroid, being an auto-immune disease. My husband was diagnoed after a urinary tract infection and i took my daughter to my GP because she was going to the toilet alot.
I had gestational diabetes with my 3rd and 4th children but not with my 1st two. My 7 year old is my second. I also have bed wetters, which are my 1st and 3rd children and both boys. My daughter has never had an issue with wetting the bed.
This is all new to me and i find it amazing how little the professional know about how it is triggered.
I'm also interested in being involved in any of the clinical trials. I'll do anything to help find a cure or even make life easier for my husband and daughter. How do you get involved?
Good choice Martyn! I have also decided not to have any children of my own, due to the risk of passing it along, and many people think that is crazy and i will change my mind eventually. It's nice to hear i'm not the only one concerned about spreading the disease and making rational choices to assist in it's management. And i agree, it would be nice to find a cure and at least just once, be able to sit down, watch a movie and eat a bag of lollies and a lot of junk food without the worry or the illness that follows. xoxo
There has never been diabetes in our family before. My 2 nephews and my son have the disease. I strongly believe that the way in which our food has been messed about with triggers some of these awful diseases.
My eleven year old daughter was diagnosed last November. I admit being a novice but we have adapted great so far! I like so may other parents have pondered the question to which there is no answer yet-What triggered it? Very frustrating when the experts don't know.
My daughter was raised with dogs, went to childcare, was not obese and had a food police mother. Her diet was great, she didn't consume excessive amounts of junk which was limited to special treats. She was never sick and has never had antibiotics (which in hindsight does indicate a different immune system). The only illness she had was about 6-8 mths prior to diagnosis. A vrus which lasted 3 days, I really believe that the virus had something to do with it & I also feel certain vaccinations may trigger the immune system in a negative way. My daughter was immunised against everything including meningicoocal C.
There is no Type 1 in our family and no other diseases…. A reason would be nice!
some information states …… it is true that the rota virus has a similar cellular shape to the insulin producing cell.
it has been once suggested to me that the auto immune system may misakenly attack the insulin cells when the rota virus is present in he body …
… an overactive immune sysem due to over vaccination ?????
… i only repeat what i have been told.
doctors have a tendancy to provide all sorts of validations to pacify the parents who often feel responsible.
Our son was diagnosed 1yr ago, he is now 9yrs old, we have no family member on either side of our families who has Type 1 diabetes. Our son was 8lb 14 at birth and has always been quite tall and never considered overweight. He is our youngest of 3 sons, being a tall child didnt concern or alarm us as our eldest son has also been above the 90percentile chart for height. One thing that we have noted with our son since being diagnosed his completion has changed from an olive completion to a consistent pale completion
we like everybody else who has a loved one with type 1 is hoping for a cure soon………….
Wholly cow , Ive been trying forever to get the doctors to understand it is wiht the immunizations that cause type 1 diabetes in you children out of no where. My daughter who is now 14. At the age of 6 had a new immunization and that very evening she wet the bed and started all of her simptoms. She never wet during the night even as a baby. So I no that that imunizations shot caused her diabetis because we have no one in our family with type 1 diabetis. and if you notice there is a huge amount of kids that are diagnosed eight , nine, ten years ago. Hmmmm wonder is it the immunizations.
to top this issue off… NO surveys have ever been taken in relation to possible medical circumstance triggers that occurred prior to diagnosis.
…. as a parent ..i have never been approached for input.
i got T1 in my 60's. First and only member of my family to get it. I found the information on the stress hormone back in February very interesting. About 10 to 15 years ago the dairy industry in Australia started sterilizing milk churns with chlorine instead of iodine and I wonder if reduced iodine in my diet lowered production of the hormone. Was always a big milk drinker. The antibodies could have been there for years according to my doctor.
By the way the increase in cases occurred after these change which has also contributed to an increase in eye disease inchildren and reduced mental ability among some.
My son was diagnosed 3 years ago at the age of 22months. From about 18months of age (yes he was vaccinated), he was taken to the doctor due to being ill & placed on antibiotics… which were repeated for about 5-6 weeks because he just was not getting better. then for the next 5 weeks we noticed he started with the increased fluid consumption, increased urination & decreased weight. it took me another 2 weeks, a different doctor & different hospital to finally get an answer to his illness, although not the answer I wanted to hear!! He is the only one in my family to have T1 & there was no problems during my pregnancy. I pray & stay positive in the hope he will be cured in his lifetime along with all the other sufferers out there.
the same stories are heard over and over again … i feel your pain and suffering.
why oh why are questions not asked and answered???
SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THIS ILLNESS