New research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, Spain (9-13 September), shows that eating fruit, oats and rye in childhood is associated with a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Eating berries, however, is linked to lower odds of developing the condition. T1D is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas.
This prevents the body from producing enough of the hormone insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels. What triggers the immune system's attack is unknown but is thought to involve a combination of a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger such as a virus or foodstuff. T1D, the most common form of diabetes in children, is increasing worldwide.
The number of cases worldwide is projected to double in just 20 years, from 8.4 million in 2021 to 17.4 million by 2040.
Finland has the highest incidence of T1D globally, with 52.2 cases per 100,000 children under the age of 15—more than five times higher than in the 1950s. "Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition that requires lifelong treatment and so places a considerable burden on the patient and their family," says Professor Suvi Virtanen, of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland, who led the research.
"It can lead to complications including eye, heart, nerve and kidney problems and shorten life expectancy and has subst.