Type 1 diabetes in infants is very rare though it does occur, often first manifesting at birth. The complications of managing insulin dependent diabetes is compounded by the inability of infants to communicate what they are feeling, requiring a heightened amount of attentiveness from parents. Neonatal hypoglycemia is not diabetes. It is the most common metabolic complication in newborns but is extremely rare with one baby in thousands of live births suffering from it. Diabetes in infants is related to family history and the particular genetics of the individual. Possible risk factors for the development of type 1 diabetes in infants include: low vitamin D levels (it is important to note early ingestion of cow’s milk has been linked to increased risk of type 1 diabetes), nitrate laced water, exposure to viruses such as mumps of Epstein-Barr virus, and introduction of cereals and certain baby formulas.
