November 14 is World Diabetes Day.

The day was created to increase knowledge about diabetes.

In Sweden, about half a million people have diabetes.

The most common form is type 2 diabetes, but approximately 50,000 people in Sweden have type 1 diabetes, which was previously called childhood diabetes.

It is also the most serious form of diabetes and is increasing in Sweden.

Every year, about 1,500 people fall ill in the country.

Getting the diagnosis before the age of ten can mean about fifteen years shorter life expectancy.

-You can die of low blood sugar, but in most cases it is about having cardiovascular problems, poor blood circulation and that the kidneys are damaged, says Malin Flodström Tullberg.

Sweden and Finland extra affected

Sweden and Finland are the countries with the highest proportion of type 1 diabetics.

It has long been thought that it is the genetic heritage that controls the risk of being affected, but there are signs that the environment is also important.

A Finnish study previously showed, for example, that children with parents who immigrated from Somalia had as great a risk of developing diabetes as children with parents of Finnish descent.

-It indicates that there is also something in the environment that triggers the disease, says Malin Flodström Tullberg.

Cold virus

That it may be a certain kind of cold virus that triggers type 1 diabetes, it may sound incredible, but in recent years it has been the most dominant hypothesis in diabetes research and has been shown in several studies, such as here a Spanish study and here an international study with, among others, researchers from Lund University.

Other theories are about hygiene and inflammation.

But the mechanisms behind the disease are still a mystery.

Professor Malin Flodström Tullberg and her team, together with Finnish researchers, have developed a vaccine against viruses that are believed to cause diabetes.

Test on people

The virus is less common in Finland and Sweden than in many other countries, and researchers therefore believe that we lack a good immune system against it.

Next year, the vaccine will begin to be tested on humans.

It will be a test if the hypothesis is really true.

-If we were to see the disease go down, then it could be the biggest breakthrough in a long time, says Malin Flodström Tullberg.

When could such a vaccine be ready, if all goes well?

- It is probably about five to ten years, a vaccine must be tested and evaluated very carefully.

Especially if it is to be given to children.

Theoretically, could one eradicate type 1 diabetes then?

- No, we do not think that everyone who gets diabetes gets it from this virus.

But if we could reduce the incidence by 10-15 percent, it would be fantastic.