Why did this  happen? What kicked it off? Why do some kids get diagnosed at 2 and others not until they are 10 or 15 or even (as is becoming more common), in adulthood? These are questions with no good answers.

The first thing many people ask me is who else in our family has Type 1. Answer: no one.  Most people believe that Type 1 is a purely hereditary disease. That is so not true that in fact most of the Type 1 families I have met also have no one else in their family with Type 1.

The reality is that Type 1 has a genetic component but it’s only partly responsible. It may even be only a smallish piece of the puzzle.  Viruses look like good candidates right now, as do environmental factors. The viruses and the environmental factors may very well be be interrelated. And require the presence of a certain genetic component. Type 1 is a complex disease.

This website does  a beautiful job of collecting the major hypotheses and theories out there, as well as associated studies and information. I was particularly interested in the studies relating latitude with incidence of type 1. For example, Finland has the highest incidence of Type 1 of any country in the world. It turns out that, in either direction, as you approach one of the Earth’s poles, the higher the incidence of type 1. Closer to the equator = less incidence. It can be seen dramatically in Australia; the North end of the continent (closer to the equator) has a lower incidence of type 1 than the South end (closer to the pole). Weird, huh?

This ties into the Vitamin D hypothesis. Studies show that higher levels of Vitamin D have somewhat of a protective effect against Type 1. This correlates with living in an area that sees more sunshine. Likewise, low levels of Vitamin D have been found in diabetics.  Similar studies have been done with Omega-3′s.

Needless to say, Ellory can now hardly see her plate for all the vitamins piled in front of it at mealtime.