A Diabetes virus has been found to be a possible cause of some children and adults who develop Diabetes Mellitus. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the Immune System attacks the beta cells in the pancreas, leaving them unable to produce sufficient-or any, levels of insulin. Researchers have always speculated that type 1 Diabetes was the result of an infection, illness, or virus, but they never had data on a specific virus and Diabetes being linked until recently.
A Pathologist in the United Kingdom has been studying the effects of Diabetes on numerous patients post-mortem. He collected tissue samples from the pancreases of children who died due to type 1 Diabetes and compared them to tissues samples from children who did not have Diabetes. He found that 60% of the children with Diabetes all had a common link. Each child had the same family of viruses, called Enteroviruses in their tissues.This group of viruses causes gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
He believes that the Enterovirus is the virus causing Diabetes, or the trigger that is required to stimulate the Immune System into attacking the beta cells. Without some type of environmental stimulus-or trigger, researchers believe that genetic predisposition is not enough to prompt the development of the disease in a person. He also theorizes that this virus may affect people with type 2 Diabetes as well by changing the beta cells to produce less insulin, thus requiring a greater demand and less supply, and eventually starting a process of insulin resistance.
Diabetes Virus
Research conducted on the virus and Diabetes in the United States showed similar results. Researchers tested 112 children for Enteroviral DNA and found 83% of children diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes did indeed have it in their makeup, while only 7% of children without Diabetes had the Enteroviral DNA in their system. These researchers speculate that this virus does not necessarily cause Diabetes, but that it may promote a biomarker for the disease.
Diabetes Virus – Coxsackie Virus
The research involved in the Diabetes virus is far from being conclusive as decades ago, scientists were certain that the Coxsackie B4 Virus was to blame for Diabetes. As more research was conducted, they realized the link, while common, was not significant.Now with the Enterovirus, the same facts apply. What has been learned so far is a breakthrough, but more information is needed. As there are hundreds of strains of Enterovirus, researchers need to identify which type of virus may be responsible for triggering the disease and if different strains produce varied results. In addition, they should also ascertain how these strains vary from person to person and if prior illnesses or immunizations render a person safe from developing Diabetes. With the interest in this topic, Diabetic sufferers are hopeful that a vaccine and possibly a cure will be possible in the future.
