What virus caused T1 in you ?
I have started asking some people that I know what virus caused the auto immune response that caused T1. I've been hearing a lot of odd ones.
I have heard of Varicella( chicken pox) and Herpes simplex 1 or 2.
I had the standard and most common Coxsackie B.
Most people I ask don't know because it was not tested or the virus was gone by the time they were diagnosed.
I don't even know if it is even used anymore. I think they tested me because I was already 20 when I was diagnosed and perhaps it was how they determined I was type1 even though I was a beanpole at the time.
I fail to see the need for it more than a curiosity or in understanding the process in order to prevent it.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
I think to some folks it's important that they know exactly what caused their diabetes.
Just looking at my tudiabetes "inbox" there is one guy who is convinced that his tooth fillings caused his diabetes and a different lady is convinced that it's an antibiotic her mother took during her preganncy that caused her diabetes. The inbox pleas seem to be folks who are desparately looking for some kind of common connection over what they feel is the most relevant part of their diabetes i.e. what caused it.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy on -
I've never thought of blaming my mother, but perhaps that is a good idea.YEA I CAN USE THAT ! I have already blamed her for my eyesight. PILE ON MOM !
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Permalink Reply by Josephine A Ni Dhomhnaill on -
Nobody ever told me I was tested for any virus which may have caused it. The docs seemed to believe it was passed on from my father's side of the family, my paternal grandmother being a type 1 also. I would love to know the exact cause of diabetes in my case, out of curiousity.
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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on -
I have no idea. I'd sprained my ankle right before I was dx'ed and had my foot in a cast for a few weeks.
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Permalink Reply by Josephine A Ni Dhomhnaill on
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Funny enough I was chased home by a horse one day, my mother thinks that's what brought it on for me, honest !
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Permalink Reply by Holger Schmeken on -
There is no virus or vaccine to cause T1 diabetes. As T1 we have a problem with our immune system that is causing T-cells to attack our own tissue. These T-cells have been identified and Dr. Denise Faustman refers to them as rogue T-cells. These cells can cause all sorts of autoimmune problems: thyroid, rare skin conditions and more. This proneness to autoimmune reactions is actually the genetic condition that is passed in your family. If you look closely you will find relatives with odd conditions related to autoimmunity as well. At one time in the past our rogue T-cells started to attack the beta cells that produce the insulin. Often this happens at times when the immune system is challenged by other conditions (viruses etc). But the condition is just a trigger for a higher alertness of the immune system. This alertness causes the immune system to overreact to the threat. As a result some T-cells might find their way to the beta cells and start to kill them too (this is a very unlikely event, 20 new T1 diabetics in 100,000 people per year). It is assumed that deficits in vitamin D production might contribute to the beta cells being attacked. But the mechanics involved is not known yet. However researchers do see that the less daylight a country has the more likely T1 develops (daylight controls vitamin D production).
Dr. Denise Faustman has found the drug BCC. This drug has been found to be effective in regulating the misbehaving rogue T-cells. This means it acts as a moderator to regulate the immune response to normal levels. This might be effective in many immune conditions we know today. However regulating the T-cells is just one side of the problem. We know that these attacks happen daily because beta cells can naturally regrow. Still some of us have managed to preserve some of our beta cells (they help tremendously with the level of control we can achieve). The question is: can the residual beta-cells regrow when the attack has been stopped permanently? In the mouse model this can work but in humans this needs further studies and money of course. Last but not least the potential side effects of a permanent BCC administration to regulate the immune system needs to be investigated too.
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Permalink Reply by Holger Schmeken on
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Actually the drug is called BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin). This is a weakened strain of bacteria that is used in the prevention of tuberculosis. The drug is known for more than 80 years.
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Permalink Reply by Josephine A Ni Dhomhnaill on
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Yes quite true, my family is riddled with auto-immune disorders, thyroid probs, arthritis etc. Your knowledge in a great asset to us on this site, thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Holger Schmeken on
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Thanks, Josephine! In all honesty it is just a summary of all the things I have learned here in this great community.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Ratrie on -
As always, thanks for a fact-filled reply.
From a personal anecdotal perspective, I am surprised to hear about Vitamin D deficits as a contributor. My exposure to sunlight and consumption of milk w/Vitamin D added was good to high.
Also, in the FWIW category, with the exception of asthma, there are essentially no known autoimmune issues in my family.
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Permalink Reply by meee on -
Good post Holger, I thought though that the original cause of the T cell attack was in response to a protein produced when we had a virus we were trying to overcome, I remember reading that somewhere? I recently gave blood at the Faustman lab and the new person in charge of that there, Sophie, told me that I have been fighting this off my whole life most likely but somehow succumbed to it now rather than earlier in life.
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