Researchers from Cardiff University suggest that type 1 diabetes can be triggered by bacterial infections. The researchers found that when killer T cells in the immune system encounter certain bacterial proteins, they can mistakenly start attacking the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This leads to a lack of insulin, which is a vital hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. The specific genetic factor that makes some people susceptible to this process is only present in about 3% of the UK population. The researchers hope that understanding the underlying causes of type 1 diabetes could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatments for the condition, which currently has no cure.
