A child in a daycare setting with stylized immune system elements and a protective stream of breast milk.

Decoding Diabetes: Can Daycare and Breastfeeding Influence Type 1 Risk?

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Early social interactions and infant feeding choices may play a surprising role in the development of autoimmune diabetes, according to new research."

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is on the rise, especially in young children. While genetics play a role, experts believe environmental triggers are also crucial in initiating the autoimmune response that leads to the disease. Understanding these triggers is key to prevention.

The 'hygiene hypothesis' suggests that increased cleanliness and fewer early childhood infections might paradoxically increase the risk of autoimmune diseases like T1D. Social interaction, particularly in daycare settings, can expose children to a variety of microbes, potentially influencing their immune development.

A recent study published in BioMed Research International, delved into the potential link between daycare attendance, breastfeeding, and the development of T1D in young children. Researchers examined data from the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) to explore how these early-life factors might impact T1D risk.

Daycare Exposure: A Double-Edged Sword?

A child in a daycare setting with stylized immune system elements and a protective stream of breast milk.

The DAISY study followed children at increased genetic risk for T1D, tracking their daycare attendance and breastfeeding habits. The study defined daycare as supervised time with at least one other child, excluding siblings, at least three times a week. Researchers then analyzed the relationship between these factors and the development of T1D.

Interestingly, the study found that daycare attendance alone wasn't significantly associated with an increased or decreased risk of T1D. However, when breastfeeding was considered, a different picture emerged. The findings suggest that the impact of daycare on T1D risk may depend on whether a child is breastfed.

No Breastfeeding, Higher Risk: Daycare attendance was associated with an increased risk of T1D in children who were not breastfed.
Breastfeeding Changes the Game: For children who were breastfed, increased duration of breastfeeding appeared to reduce the risk associated with daycare attendance.
The Sweet Spot: The lowest risk of T1D was observed in children who attended daycare and were breastfed for 12 months or longer.

These findings hint at a complex interaction. Daycare might increase exposure to infections that could trigger T1D in susceptible individuals, but breastfeeding may offer immune support that mitigates this risk. This aligns with the 'trigger-booster' hypothesis, where infections can trigger or accelerate the autoimmune process, and the hygiene hypothesis, where diverse microbial exposure can train the immune system.

Navigating the Nuances of Early Childhood Immunity

The study underscores the intricate relationship between early-life exposures and immune development. While daycare provides social interaction and microbial exposure, breastfeeding offers crucial immune support. The combination of the two may be key to shaping a child's immune system and influencing their risk of autoimmune diseases like T1D.

It's important to remember that this is just one study, and more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms. However, the results highlight the potential importance of breastfeeding in mitigating the potential risks associated with early daycare attendance.

For parents, the takeaway isn't to avoid daycare or feel pressured to breastfeed, but rather to make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances and consult with their pediatrician. Understanding the potential interplay between these factors can empower families to make choices that support their child's long-term health.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1155/2015/203947, Alternate LINK

Title: Daycare Attendance, Breastfeeding, And The Development Of Type 1 Diabetes: The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study In The Young

Subject: General Immunology and Microbiology

Journal: BioMed Research International

Publisher: Hindawi Limited

Authors: Katelyn Hall, Brittni Frederiksen, Marian Rewers, Jill M. Norris

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does daycare attendance impact a child's risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes?

The study found that daycare attendance alone wasn't significantly associated with an increased or decreased risk of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). However, among children who were not breastfed, daycare attendance was associated with an increased risk of T1D. Conversely, for children who were breastfed, a longer duration of breastfeeding appeared to reduce the risk associated with daycare attendance. The lowest risk of T1D was observed in children who attended daycare and were breastfed for 12 months or longer, suggesting a protective effect from breastfeeding against potential risks from daycare.

What does the 'hygiene hypothesis' suggest about the development of Type 1 Diabetes and how might daycare and breastfeeding relate to it?

The 'hygiene hypothesis' suggests that reduced exposure to microbes in early childhood, due to increased cleanliness, may lead to a higher risk of autoimmune diseases like Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). The idea is that a lack of diverse microbial exposure can result in an immune system that is more prone to overreact to harmless substances, potentially triggering autoimmune responses. Daycare attendance increases exposure to different microbes. Breastfeeding may offer immune support that mitigates this risk.

What is the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY), and what kind of information does it track?

The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) is a research project that follows children at increased genetic risk for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). It tracks various factors, including daycare attendance and breastfeeding habits, to understand how these early-life exposures might impact the development of T1D. DAISY aims to identify environmental triggers and protective factors that can influence the onset of T1D in young children, contributing to prevention strategies.

Can you explain the 'trigger-booster' hypothesis in relation to Type 1 Diabetes, daycare, and breastfeeding?

The 'trigger-booster' hypothesis, in the context of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), suggests that infections or other environmental triggers can initiate or accelerate the autoimmune process in genetically susceptible individuals. Daycare attendance might increase exposure to such infections, potentially acting as triggers. However, factors like breastfeeding can modulate this risk. Breastfeeding may offer immune support that mitigates the potential effects of these triggers, influencing whether the autoimmune process is initiated or accelerated.

What are the implications of the interaction between daycare attendance and breastfeeding duration on the risk of Type 1 Diabetes?

The interplay between daycare attendance and breastfeeding duration appears to significantly influence the risk of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). For children not breastfed, daycare attendance is associated with increased T1D risk, potentially due to increased exposure to infections. However, breastfeeding, especially for 12 months or longer, seems to mitigate this risk, offering immune support that may counteract the effects of daycare-related exposures. This interaction underscores the complex relationship between early-life exposures and immune development in determining T1D risk.