The rising incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus and the role of environmental factors--three decade experience in a primary care health center in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The incidence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing all over the world including Saudi Arabia and environmental factors have been suggested to play an important role in its etiology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate if there are any contributory roles of various environmental factors in the rising incidence of type 1 diabetes in children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of Saudi Arab subjects (n = 119) diagnosed between 1980 and 2009 with type 1 diabetes and these subjects were classified to six groups on the basis of the onset of diabetes.