A risk factor is something that raises the chances of getting a health problem. A person can get type 1 diabetes with or without the ones listed below. The chances of getting it are higher in people who have many. Things that can raise the risk are:

Age

Type 1 diabetes is more likely to start when a person is a child or young adult. It can also happen any age.

Ethnic Background

This health problem is more likely in people who are:

Northern European
African
Hispanic
Native American

Family History

People who have a parent, brother, or sister with type 1 are more likely to get it.

Islet Cell Autoantibodies

Islet autoantibodies are proteins made by the immune system. They have been linked to type 1 diabetes. People with them are at higher risk.

References:

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2019. Diabetes Care. 2019. Jan; 42 (Suppl 1):S1-193.

Diabetes mellitus type 1. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diabetes-mellitus-type-1-34. Updated June 28, 2019. Accessed November 22, 2019.

Type 1 diabetes. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-1. Accessed November 22, 2019.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD
Last Updated: 12/8/2020

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