Germs ‘may play a role in onset of type 1 diabetes’

A new study has highlighted a previously unknown potential role played by germs in the development of type 1 diabetes.

Researchers from Cardiff University's Systems Immunity Research Institute have found that germs may be responsible for triggering the body's immune system to destroy the cells that produce insulin, leading to the onset of the disease.

Previous studies have shown that killer T-cells – a type of white blood cell that normally protects against germs – destroy insulin-producing beta cells, but the new study offered evidence that these killer T-cells are strongly activated by some bacteria.

The team hope this understanding could pave the way for the development of new means of diagnosing, preventing or even stopping the development of type 1 diabetes.

Cardiff University's Dr David Cole said: "We still have much to learn about the definitive cause of type 1 diabetes and we know that there are other genetic and environmental factors at play."

Type 1 diabetes is prevalent in children and young adults, and is not connected with diet, unlike the type 2 variant. To date, understanding of what triggers the disease is poor, with no known cure for the condition either.