As previous News Blog entries have covered, researchers are working to determine how genetics and environmental factors contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes.  A number of recent studies (including this one and this one, published in the journal Diabetes) have indicated that enteroviruses – common viruses that can cause cold-like symptoms, fever, or diarrhea – may be linked to the development of type 1 diabetes.  A new study published in the journal BMJ provides further evidence that these viruses play a role.

The new study was a meta-analysis, meaning the researchers did not conduct any new human trials, but reviewed and compared existing data from nearly 5,000 people with type 1 diabetes to draw their conclusions.  Based on the data, the researchers concluded that there is a clinically significant association between enterovirus infection and type 1 diabetes. 

It’s important to note that the study only shows an association between enteroviruses and type 1 diabetes.  It does not establish a cause and effect relationship, nor the process by which the autoimmune attack that causes type 1 is triggered.

The idea that viruses may be associated with the development of type 1 diabetes is certainly not new.  So why, then, is a study like this one important?  According to the researchers involved, understanding the role viruses play in people who develop type 1 diabetes produces knowledge that could possibly be applied to strategies to prevent the disease.  Understanding the causes of type 1 diabetes could, for example, lead to a vaccine to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

JDRF shares the point of view that the knowledge we gain about the underlying causes and development of type 1 diabetes from research will be vital for developing preventive approaches.  JDRF’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Richard Insel, provided a comprehensive overview of prevention research in a recent webcast.