Diabetes occurs due to the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease. It is a condition in which the immune system of the organism “attacks” its own tissues and organs. It leads to a complete destruction of cells that produce insulin and are located in the pancreas.
The disease doesn't occur that often, however, there are some significant variations worldwide. For example, in Europe and the USA, the number of affected people is different in different countries. It is supposed to be related to the increasing trend of obesity in our society. In the last 30 years, the number of people with diabetes has tripled. However, obesity doesn't explain the increase of Type 1 diabetes in children, but some research proposes that it is highly related to unhealthy diet and lifestyle.