According to a study related to type 1 diabetes trends in Europe, the number of below-five-years children with type 1 diabetes would likely increase two times during the period 2005 to 2020.

Figuratively speaking, the total number of cases of type 1 diabetes among European children under 5 years would see a nearly twofold increase from 9,955 in 2005 to
20,113 in 2020; while that of children under 15 will rise nearly 70 percent - from 93,584 in 2005 to 159,767 in 2020.

The findings of the study, published in The Lancet, reveal that along with genetics, lifestyle factors and environmental exposures would also play a significant role in the increase in cases of type 1 diabetes.

The study, conducted by researchers from Ireland and Hungary, is based on 29,311 type 1 diabetes cases recorded in 20 European countries from 1989 to 2003. Resulting from insulin deficiency, type 1 diabetes cases need to be treated with regular injections of the hormone.

Lead researcher and epidemiologist Christopher C. Patterson, PhD - of Ireland's Queen's University - said that the rates of type 1 diabetes among children and young teens are increasing at an alarming rate. Patterson said: "We are likely to see more children with severe diabetes complications presenting at earlier ages if we fail to recognize and adequately treat disease in very young patients."

(Via TopNews. Contributed by Carina Rose)