Virus Can Trigger Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood

March 9, 2009

Would you vaccinate your child if it meant they could fend off a virus that triggered diabetes? A recent report said:

Although genetics is known to play a fairly substantial role in a person's risk of developing diabetes, environmental factors must also be involved and the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades.

The piece also talked about how an immunization might prevent this from happening.

Diabetes Health And Fitness

6 Comments

4 years 6 weeks

My mum always said that my Chickenpox caused my type 1 diabetes and that was in 1970! I also get outbreaks of shingles on my back from time to time (currently have an outbreak) and when I had chicken pox as a child I had it severly on my back, no where else! It is interesting to read other comments and to hear the latest news regarding these links. .....and yes, I would give my son a vaccine if it were available.

macgirl 4 years 10 weeks

Wow, I had no idea. Thank you all for sharing your stories. I'm not anti vaccine so I would consider this.

thatsmypurse 4 years 10 weeks

That's how I got Type I Diabetes, from a virus. Like pp we have no family history of type I or II and it was a real shock for my parents to find out their 5 year old had it. My parents do like to joke that I'm the unlucky one in the family, hehe. But, almost 20 years later, I'm doing great since being put on the pump and expecting my first baby in about 4 weeks :)

thatsmypurse 4 years 10 weeks

That's how I got Type I Diabetes, from a virus. Like pp we have no family history of type I or II and it was a real shock for my parents to find out their 5 year old had it. My parents do like to joke that I'm the unlucky one in the family, hehe.But, almost 20 years later, I'm doing great since being put on the pump and expecting my first baby in about 4 weeks :)

knowmercy 4 years 10 weeks

My mom talked about this a number of years ago. She said that there was a link between meningitis, chicken pox, shingles and type I diabetes. My sister is Type I, diagnosed at 8 years old. We had no family history of diabetes. She and I both had shingles by the time we were 21. Interesting to hear this come around again.

mstrauss 4 years 10 weeks

As long as it was a safe vaccine, I would give it to my child without question. I developed Type 1 diabetes when I was 18 and it was totally random. There is no one anywhere in my family with Type 1. I assume now, with all this research, that a virus may have triggered the disease and I would be so thankful to have the chance to avoid the same situation in my children. Diabetes is dangerous, challenging, and super expensive. I can't even imagine being a child with diabetes.

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