It’s been known for a while that viruses trigger T1D — I believe the thinking is that the mechanism is a combination of (1) genetic predisposition, (2) “molecular mimicry” — where a particular virus/antigen shares structural similarity to pancreatic beta cells, so the individual’s T-cells become “cross-reactive,” ie read the beta cells as viruses and therefore attack, (3) a more generalized inflammatory immune response.

Certain viruses have been identified as being common triggers — human enteroviruses and coxsackie are two big ones, but also some herpes and rotoviruses, mumps, probably covid too, and a handful of others. I believe the individual must have the predisposition, and even then the mechanisms are complex (the immune system is unbelievably complicated and individualized).

In our case, our whole family had a short, dramatic enterovirus about 5-6 months before DC’s diagnosis at 12. Diagnosed ADHD since forever. But my gut is that the virus only accelerated a process that was already underway. Hard to know for sure.

If your child has both ASD and T1D, what age were they diagnosed with T1D? Was it after an illness or immunization?

Anonymous wrote:My ASD level-1 teenage DC tested positive for T1D antibodies recently. He was always in the pre-diabetic range all his childhood although he is very slim. No family history of T1D.

You sound like you might know this, but just in case, weight/slimness has nothing to do with type 1. Sorry your kid tested positive.

My T1D kid has no family history either. Apparently most don’t,

And my understanding is that if a kid has ASD/ADHD they are at higher risk for T1D.

My ASD level-1 teenage DC tested positive for T1D antibodies recently. He was always in the pre-diabetic range all his childhood although he is very slim. No family history of T1D.

Mom of a T1D - I have never heard this theory and it is def not something I have noticed from my experience within the community - and I know a lot of T1Ds.

I know a few kids on the spectrum. One has TD1.

Yes, I remember looking this up and there is a higher-than-average rate of comorbidity.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9722754/

Certainly true in our household.

I know two people with t1 diabetes (one is now an adult and one is a child) and neither are adhd or ASD. Both girls.

I have no idea but anecdotally I grew up T1D from age 7 and was always very structured and somewhat rigid. For decades I chalked that up to needing to be because of the T1D. This was well before all the amazing medical technology that exists now in the field. I thought perhaps I was OCD out of necessity.

These days, I’ve come around to self-diagnose with ASD. I think ASD fits better than OCD, in my case.

Oddly, I have a sibling who is also T1D and has also recently self-diagnosed as ASD as well as a recent clinical diagnosis of ADHD.

So, two anecdotal cases for you.

Is Type 1 in any way correlated with ASD or ADHD?