Worldwide study looks to find causes of type ...( including nail clippings and stool sa...),Health

They are looking extensively because, just as the water is different, the triggers may be different for different people and in different cities, states and countries. The extensive data will be examined collectively and by individual center to tease out regional differences.

Clearly there are regional differences in incidence. Finland and Sweden, for example, which have largely homogenous populations, have the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world, says Dr. She.

No doubt the TEDDY study is a tremendous undertaking for the researchers, as well as the children and parents willing to open up their lives to such scrutiny. But, says Dr. She, the problem with past studies is that they took isolated looks at a very complex disease.

"The bottom line is that it's not going to be a simple answer," Mrs. Hopkins says.

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Contact: Toni Baker
tbaker@mcg.edu
706-721-4421
Medical College of Georgia
13-Feb-2006