Who is at risk of
type 1 diabetes?
Autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) can affect anyone at any age,1,2 but some people have a higher risk than others.3
Relatives with autoimmune T1D
Family history plays a key role in a person’s likelihood of developing autoimmune T1D.3–5
If a close family member (parent or sibling) has autoimmune T1D, your risk can be up to 15 times higher compared to those without.2,4,5
If a more distant relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin) has autoimmune T1D, your risk can be nearly twice as high.4,6
People with other autoimmune conditions
Autoimmune conditions often overlap.7–9
If you or someone in your family has another autoimmune condition, like coeliac or thyroid disease, your risk of developing autoimmune T1D may be higher.10–13
People without a family history of autoimmune T1D
Although family history can be a good indicator of a person’s risk, it is certainly not the only factor that indicates your chance of developing autoimmune T1D.
In fact, ~90% of people with autoimmune T1D have no family history.14
References
- Gregory GA, Robinson TIG, Linklater SE, et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022;10(10):741-760.
- Haller MJ, Bell KJ, Besser REJ, et al. Horm Res Paediatr. 2024;97(6):529-545.
- Weires MB, Tausch B, Haug PJ, et al. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2007;115(10):634-640.
- Parkkola A, Härkönen T, Ryhänen SJ, et al. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(2):348-354.
- Besser REJ, Bell KJ, Couper JJ, et al. Pediatr Diabetes. 2022;23(8):1175-1187.
- Allen C, Palta M, D’Alessio DJ. Diabetes. 1991;40(7):831-836.
- Edelman S. J Fam Pract. 2023;72(Suppl 6):S19-S24.
- Barker JM. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(4):1210-1217.
- Głowińska-Olszewska B, Szabłowski M, Panas P, et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:476.
- Ludvigsson JF, Ludvigsson J, Ekbom A, et al. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(11):2483-2488.
- Skov J, Kuja-Halkola R, Magnusson PKE, et al. Eur J Endocrinol. 2022;186(6):677-685.
- Biondi B, Kahaly GJ, Robertson RP. Endocr Rev. 2019;40(3):789-824.
- Cárdenas-Roldán J, Rojas-Villarraga A, Anaya JM. BMC Med. 2013;11:73.
- Karges B, Prinz N, Placzek K, et al. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(5):1116-1124.