 [ Symptoms ] what causes type 1 diabetes recently diagnosed [ Disease ] type 1 diabetes develops because the body is defense system  immune system  tells the body to destroy the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin it is not known what causes this immune response some people inherit the risk for type 1 diabetes but even these people may not develop type 1 diabetes unless other factors such as exposure to certain viral infections are present in infants and children the beta cells usually are destroyed rapidly resulting in a sudden rise in blood sugar level and a sudden onset of diabetes symptoms in adults the cells often are destroyed more slowly resulting in a slower rise in blood sugar level and a slower onset of diabetes symptoms certain genes make a person more susceptible while other genes seem to protect the person from the disease a complex interaction between a person is genes and some environmental factors such as having enteroviral infections  especially coxsackie b infections may increase the risk of developing the disease but it does not mean that the person will definitely develop the disease in the past experts thought that vaccines caused diabetes but studies have found no link between getting a vaccination and getting type 1 diabetes 2 webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information © 1995 2011 healthwise incorporated healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated