Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes: Lights and shades

The incidence rate of type 1 diabetes varies by up to 576 times between different countries around the world. In Spain, the highest incidence rate is twice that of the lowest between Autonomous Communities. Many studies have been published in the last twenty years on the incidence, prevalence, trends, and characteristics at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. The age at diagnosis, sex, racial group, familial clustering, and seasonal variation have been the characteristics analysed. These data are the lights that epidemiology provides us, in order tohave a better understanding of diabetes aetiopathology. They allow us to create hypotheses to be investigated. The shades are the quality of some registries and the lack of success of trials conducted up until now. In order to improve these results, is necessary to develop more reliable registries to get accurate data in order to combat the environment risk factors. (C) 2013 Sociedad Espanola de Diabetes. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.