Type 1 diabetes may be linked to early immune system exposure to beta cells or molecular mimicry with viruses.

“there I remember a number of papers that highlight the fact that there might be something happening during development that exposes um the uh immune system to the developing beta cells and that might trigger more autoimmunity at that time. It could also be linked to the fact that there's been for many years a discussion of the role of viruses infection and mim molecular mimicry between some of these viruses and and beta cells. So it could be that a subset of infections that happen during childhood actually puts you at at risk of activating your immune system inappropriately.”