Mama - Why Was I Chosen?

It's not a question I really have ever thought about - with becoming diabetic at a young age.  Sometimes I think perhaps getting it so young, is the reason I am able to handle it better then some who become diagnosed later on in life.  All I know is that I don't know life any other way then then this.  Do I get worried sometimes about it?  Yes, but the fear is more so when I become much older, and I'm not capable of taking care of myself like I do now.  To have someone else taking care of me scares the crap out of me.  I'm probably like this because my parents had me taking care of my diabetes probably much younger then today's generation of parents would do.  I am glad that they did this with me, as I had to learn how to cope.  Anyway, I think I'll be around for a while, hopefully with a body/brain intact enough to deal with the roller coaster ride of diabetes - through good and bad.  This is what I think makes long term diabetics like myself survivors and strong willed.

What started off this whole blog title is an article that popped up on my desktop from the UK, stating that a virus called Enterovirus is the 2nd leading cause of the common cold virus could perhaps be the cause of Type 1 diabetes in children.  The article goes on to say " that children with Type 1 diabetes are nearly 10 times more likely to show signs of enterovirus infection than children without Type 1 ".  The genetic factor has sort of been tossed around for awhile and is still up for debate amongst the medical community to this day.  What has been revealed with combined studies is that they can't pinpoint the exact environmental factor that sets off Type 1 diabetes but this virus is now being more thoroughly researched.

I know over the years with discussions with other diabetics that were diagnosed at a young age, that many of us have muddled this idea in our hand that it could be to do with the environment we lived in, as well as genetically being passed on to us.  I know my great grandmother who died at quite an old age, was discovered to have diabetes, probably Type 2.  This wasn't the cause of her death though, it was just time for her body to go onto the next life (or that's the way I like to think of it through rose coloured glasses).

I don't really remember too much about having colds before I was diagnosed  - but I remember getting hit with the chicken pox.  I was so angry to not be able to go outside to play in the snow - and basically bashed in my parents front bay window with my foot while my older brother teased me outside the window.  So, who knows, maybe that set things in motion for me? 

The way I'm reading the article which is based on 4,440 patients in Europe, is how hygenic our society has become which causes our body not to develop antibodies to ward off viruses.  This in turn makes children more susceptible to infections since they have not acquired antibodies.  Of course, this is one of their theories, but it's always been something that's bugged me in the back of my mind with how many people nowadays are always somewhat fantical about things being squeaky clean/sterile.  I'm imagining if I'd had children, they all be running around dishevilled and snotty nosed (visions of Pippy Longstocking here), but happy little buggers as they played with the dust bunnies in the house.  Along with how many Mums now breast feed?   It has been shown that breast milk helps build up a child's immunity (and it's way cheaper then formula). 

So, what are your thoughts?