Perinatal and childhood risk factors for early-onset type 1 diabetes: a population-based case-control study in Taiwan

Background : Certain factors originating from the perinatal and childhood periods are suspected of contributing to the recent increasing trend of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence. This study sought to investigate the relationships between various perinatal and childhood risk factors and T1D incidence in young children ( 30 years) (OR = 1.56 (95% CI = 1.16–2.10) to 1.57 (95% CI = 1.19–2.05), mothers with Caesarean section (CS) (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.52–3.64), and mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.36, 95% CI = 2.76–7.77). Fathers with T1D (OR = 7.36, 95% CI = 1.02–57.21) or type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.04–2.26) were observed to substantially increase the risk of offspring T1D. Conclusions : Certain modifiable perinatal factors such as infection and CS may predispose incidence of T1D in young children.