Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

New link to diabetes

Thursday 03 October 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Fresh evidence for the controversial theory that cow's milk may cause diabetes in infants is revealed today. Writing in The Lancet, researchers at Rome University and St Bartholomew's Hospital in London say they have identified diabetics with immune cells that appear primed to attack a cow's milk protein, beta-casein.

Insulin-dependent diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys the beta-cells in the pancreas that make insulin. No one knows why this auto-immune reaction happens, but one theory is that cow's milk can stimulate the immune system to react to certain milk proteins. These milk proteins resemble others found on the surface of insulin-producing beta-cells. As a result, the immune system is tricked into attacking and destroying them. Glenda Cooper

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in