Just Curious

[Kaitlyn's Crew]

First of all, I would like to thank all the parents on this forum for your support and advise. I have learned alot from all of you since I started coming to this forum, I don't post that often, but I do read all posts. Once again thank you. My question, there is no history of type 1 diabetes in my family, that's why this decease is so new to us, my daughter developed type 1 from a virus/infection, she was not pre-determined to get type 1, I was wondering if anyone else's children developed this decease in a similar way.

[OSUMom]

Yes, this caught us totally by surprise. There is no Type 1 or Type 2 in either of our families that we know of in recent generations. We're not sure even of a virus that triggered it but obviously it was there somewhere! It's a mystery here in our family. :confused:

After learning more, we do know now that we have auto-immune disease on my husband's side of the family. My father-in-law has rheumatoid arthritis.

[vettechmomof2]

HI Marisa,

Do not forget that Type 1 Diabetes is also a Autoimmune disease that is turned on by a virus. So, even if there is no history of type 1 it could certainly be possible for a some sort of heredity link between that.
However, there are so many million dollar questions about how.
We have no history of type 1 diabetes and none on my hubbies side. We have went back in our history fairly far but who knows wha tis actually true from many years ago anyway.
I have a few autoimmune diseases as well as my mother and my grandmother before she passed last week. COuld it have passed that way:confused:. I am still uncertain if I will get a positive answer on that.
Some families have multiple members with type 1 and some only have 1.
So, to your question we have no members known except my daughter with type 1.;)
Take care,
Allene

[Boo]

We have no family history of type 1 either. To date, the cause(s) of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Current theories suggest that a number of factors must be present such as a genetic predisposition (not to be mistaken for a family history of D), as well as a trigger (possibly environmental such as a virus).

Basically, all the moons have to be aligned just so, with a dash of bad luck included.

Please post more often. It is always nice to hear new opinions and see new faces (though I am sorry you have a reason to be here).

[melissabeth]

yep- no history here of type 1 eithier. just bad luck.

[lisalotsamom]

We were completely shocked by Tessa's diagnosis. No type 1 diabetes on either side of family, on a few type 2 a few generations ago.
But, after learning it is an autoimmune disease, we knew Dh had an aunt with psoriasis.
Plus, Tessa was actually diagnosed with JRA 2 mos before the D.

[wendyc]

As far as we know, there is no history of T1 or T2 in either family. However, my husbands cousins do suffer from thyroid disease. We were very shocked by the diagnosis, the doctors feel that a bout of hand,foot and mouth disease is what triggered her body to start fighting against itself.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

we know that way way back there was one family member that had type 1.. but nothing recent.. we aren't sure what triggered Kaylee's.. no recent sickness when she was dx.. we do believe that she had a slow onset though..

[momtojess]

Not really history here.. My grandmother was dxd when she was in her 60s or 70s. They foudn out when she went in for heart surgery.

Other then that, there isnt any history of either type in our family.

[jules12]

There is no type 1 in our family. We do, however, have thyroid issues - including myself (graves disease). My son wasn't sick at all that I could pinpoint. I recall someone posted something about steroids not too long ago - he had the croup really bad from birth through kindergarten - in the emergency room at least once a year so maybe that is the trigger for us.

[liasmommy2000]

None, zip. However on one side of my family we have a history of autoimmune diseases. Lupus, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, food allergies (which I think is a form of autoimmune disease). But no type 1 diabetes and only one case of type 2 (dh's grandma).

We were shocked to say the least. Seems like many around her were somewhat familiar with meters and blood sugar levels etc due to type 2 or medical histories or just knowing someone with type 2. I was SO clueless, I didn't know what a meter was, never heard of such a thing even though I know several women whose kids have type 1 on another board I've belonged to for years. So yes, very very surprised here.

(((HUGS)))

[MamaChrissa]

No history here. Lotsa rheumatoid arthritis on my side and psoriasis on DHs side...but no D going back 3 generations.

It always strikes me that literally every single infection or virus Jason ever had was shared by his twin sis and me...but he got D. Just odd.

[Momof4gr8kids]

MamaBelle has a wonderful link that explains this. Here it is. http://www.uchsc.edu/misc/diabetes/ud03.pdf

Type 1 is genetic. Genetics and family history are not the same thing. It also is not as sudden as once thought. 80% or more of your beta cells (insulin producing cells) have to be damaged before you start to show symptoms. So if it were a cold, flu or illness that caused this it wouldn't be the one right before dx, that one probably just sped it up.

[Kaitlyn's Crew]

Thank you all for your replies, it helps to know were not alone in this.

[wilf]

MamaBelle has a wonderful link that explains this. Here it is. http://www.uchsc.edu/misc/diabetes/ud03.pdf

Type 1 is genetic. Genetics and family history are not the same thing. It also is not as sudden as once thought. 80% or more of your beta cells (insulin producing cells) have to be damaged before you start to show symptoms. So if it were a cold, flu or illness that caused this it wouldn't be the one right before dx, that one probably just sped it up.

Just to echo what Jamie said, latest research seems to be indicating that several types of virus may be responsible for triggering the malfunction of the immune system that leads to Type 1 Diabetes developing. This initial viral infection will generally have happened years before diagnosis.

Often times we as parents will have noticed that our children were seriously stressed in some way (eg. by illness or an operation) in the weeks or months before hospitalization/diagnosis. This stressor speeds up development of the illness, as it overloads the already damaged beta cells and gets things moving downhill toward the crisis that leads to hospitalization and diagnosis..

[A&Ds Mommy]

There is no family history of D in our family. About two weeks before Dylan was diagnosed with D and was in ketoacidosis he had a bad cold and then broke out in a rash on his legs that the doc said was from a virus. So for him I do believe it was the virus he had.

[wilf]

There is no family history of D in our family. About two weeks before Dylan was diagnosed with D and was in ketoacidosis he had a bad cold and then broke out in a rash on his legs that the doc said was from a virus. So for him I do believe it was the virus he had.

As said above, the virus 2 weeks beforehand will have initiated the final crisis that led to high BG/ketoacidosis and diagnosis. It was not what caused the D itself, as it takes many months or years for D to develop.

[hartpukas]

Hi Marisa ~

We have no history of type 1/ type 2 diabetes on either side of our families. I am not aware of any auto-immune either. Zoe has 12 cousins on my side of the family and none of them have this craziness. Our endo basically told me (because I asked :() that it is just "bad luck" - ugh... It does not make it any better however I whole heartedly believe that "this" bad luck is to counter balance all the "good" luck coming her way ;).

[Momof4gr8kids]

As said above, the virus 2 weeks beforehand will have initiated the final crisis that led to high BG/ketoacidosis and diagnosis. It was not what caused the D itself, as it takes many months or years for D to develop.

I don't think they are listening, Wilf. Neither of us got through :cwds: Never do on this point, though.

[wilf]

Hey Jamie, it's a hard point to get, esp. when we "see" such an apparent cause and effect.. :)

[OSUMom]

I got it - and found it interesting. I had a nagging feeling that the mono Dean had a year before diagnosis had something to do with it, but it seemed so far from diagnosis. It kind of is making sense now. The meningitis vaccine and tetanus combo shots a few weeks before diagnosis seemed odd to me too - but I know he was losing weight before that.

I've known this.

1. Must have auto-immune disease in family.
2. Virus triggers killing of beta cells in pancreas.

Interesting stuff, and it's curious how we want to explain it somehow. We want it to make sense. To understand how it all began. :cwds:

[Twinklet]

We have no Type 1 Diabetes or autoimmune diseases in our family at all--and we've gone back pretty far. There is the possibility of an undiagnosed autoimmune disease in someone, I suppose, but nothing obvious.

While the cause of T1D is apparently multi-factorial, I suspect Emily began developing beta cell damage at a young age. She had a bad reaction to the MMR, developed shingles to the Varicella vaccine and then got what seemed to be every childhood illness, including coxsackie virus (hand, foot & mouth). :( She had Mono 6 weeks before diagnosis and I think that put her over the edge.

So no, you're not alone. Our CDE told us that most people who develop T1D have no family history of the disease. (although I haven't looked that up).

[Heather(CA)]

First of all, I would like to thank all the parents on this forum for your support and advise. I have learned alot from all of you since I started coming to this forum, I don't post that often, but I do read all posts. Once again thank you. My question, there is no history of type 1 diabetes in my family, that's why this decease is so new to us, my daughter developed type 1 from a virus/infection, she was not pre-determined to get type 1, I was wondering if anyone else's children developed this decease in a similar way.

There are other auto immune problems, for example my brother had thyriod issues as a kid...it doesn't necc. have to be type 1 in your family...

[Heather(CA)]

As said above, the virus 2 weeks beforehand will have initiated the final crisis that led to high BG/ketoacidosis and diagnosis. It was not what caused the D itself, as it takes many months or years for D to develop.

About a year to a year and a half before dx'd, Seth had strep for 5 months. Afeter several rounds of antibiotics he was scheduled for surgery to take his tonsils out. It took a little while before surgery, then after that, he got it in his bottom...twice:eek:

The next time he had the stomach flu virus, he had diarrea for a long time. It didn't hurt or anything...just diarrea 3 times a day. We FINALLY figured out he needed the good bacteria. I figured tit out, Not the GI doc.:rolleyes:

So what your saying makes sense..

Seth has been known to say that D cured him, he's hardly ever sick anymore..

[ScottB]

My wife's parents have T2 but no T1 on either side of the family as far as I know which is why Justins dx really shocked us. My mom does have severe arthritis and 2 of my older bros who are twins have gotten gout in recent years so I imagine the autoimmune theory is plausible. Justin's Dr. did inform us that the possibility of him passing his D to any children he may have in the future is unlikely.

[OSUMom]

As I understand it - it's not a theory that Type 1 is an autoimmune disease - it is fact. :cwds:

[vettechmomof2]

I don't think they are listening, Wilf. Neither of us got through :cwds: Never do on this point, though.

I understand what you 2 are saying. My daughter only had 3 viruses in her life, however she had developed some behavioral issues about 1 year prior to diagnosis. We did a full work up of bloodwork for it because I was concerned about diabetes. She was okay as long as she ate something every 2 hours. Anyway major stresses that whole year in our family. Grandfather had brain aneurysm and stroke and my daughter got another virus(her 3rd). Full stomach issue. Went on gluten free diet and had a recovery. then at the end of the year we lost our home and normal life due to an immediete evacuation from a flash flood.
Life was altered for us and then 2 months later she lost 7 lbs and was diagnosed.
I think she was developing it that entire year when the behavioral issues started and that it was from her first virus when she was younger. So I agree with both of you.
Good discussion after a night with no sleep.:rolleyes:
Allene

[Mom2Will]

We too have no one with diabetes but for Will. Confusing, scary, etc. We keep surrounded by caring people, educate everyone about misconceptions, etc. Seems all family members blame themselves, part of the process I guess. Do the best you can, it is a science experiment for sure, with every dose trying to factor in everything, stress, illness, food.... sheesh!

[M&M's mom]

No other Type 1 or ANY other autoimmune disease on either side of our family. Such a shock when we found out. Makenzie was sick with a flu bug the week before diagnosis. Never reached the other D symptoms such as thirst, frequent urination.

[Mary Lou]

Well, there's no type 1 in my husband's or my family, and both of my kids have it. The planets must've really aligned for us :cwds:

It's funny, even though I *knew* it was an auto-immune disease, I was convinced that the "flu" my older son had prior to diagnosis somehow "triggered" it all...

Having gone through it twice, now, it was telling to see how quickly those "flu" symptoms disappeared when Andrew got a little insulin into him...

I know, without a doubt, that the "flu" I witnessed was DKA. It was diabetes ravaging his little body.

[Sia]

We too have no history of diabetes Type I. We do have a history with thyroid disease, though. And yes, we had quite a few illnesses and an attitude problem before diagnosis.
I do remember telling my husband to do a BG check on her with his mother's meter (hypochondriac), because she was just so frustrating at times, but he said that she would never stay still for something like that. He thought I was overreacting. So I had decided to get her checked in the summer before shool started. Didn't have to wait! DKA......:(
We are now waiting for some test results, maybe there is some genetic trace. If there is, we will be testing our youngest.

[ScottB]

As I understand it - it's not a theory that Type 1 is an autoimmune disease - it is fact. :cwds:

I wasn't questioning the fact that D is an autoimmune disease, I simply questioned how it applied to Justin in regards to how was it passed down to him. Was it by genes or did he get a virus that put his immune system into overdrive? :) If I'm reading everyones post correctly, arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease as well. I don't have arthritis, at least not yet but my mom and 2 older bros do so with that in mind, Justin could've gotten the gene that makes someones immune system go nuts from me It's just that instead of getting arthritis he got D instead. It really doesn't matter because no matter how I look at it, it still sucks.

[OSUMom]

I wasn't questioning the fact that D is an autoimmune disease, I simply questioned how it applied to Justin in regards to how was it passed down to him. Was it by genes or did he get a virus that put his immune system into overdrive? :) If I'm reading everyones post correctly, arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease as well. I don't have arthritis, at least not yet but my mom and 2 older bros do so with that in mind, Justin could've gotten the gene that makes someones immune system go nuts from me It's just that instead of getting arthritis he got D instead. It really doesn't matter because no matter how I look at it, it still sucks.

As I understand it he has the auto-immune disease in his genes and he got a virus (or a series of viruses) - just like all the people with Type 1. Absolutely it stinks. I knew nothing of this disease before Dean got it. :(:cwds: Never even heard of Type 1 - though I had heard of juvenile diabetes thanks to Mary Tyler Moore. ;)

[ScottB]

Relax "Mom", I wasn't implying that I was offended (thats why I put the smiley face in) but what I will say is this, when Justin was dx.d, what confounded my wife and I more than anything was how could this be happening because it was one of those issues we thought would never happen

[OSUMom]

I'm relaxed. :cwds: I just didn't think you understood. Oops. :D