Search Results for: blog autism juvenile diabetes and autoimmune factors

The “Missing Link:” Autism and Vaccinations

For more than a decade, a suggested link between childhood vaccinations and autism has caused an outcry amongst many parents and autism advocates. A study in 1998 by Dr. Andrew Wakefield proposed a possible link between children with the disorder and the measles-mumps-rubella shot. It was suggested that the mercury, or thimerosal in the vaccine caused “widespread” neurological damage resulting in autism. Now experts are saying the link doesn’t exist. As the mother of a son with autism, I have never agreed with the theory that immunizations caused his autism. My son Kyle had unique behaviors and some physical anomalies … Continue reading →

Why Kids with Autism May Need Vitamin Supplements

The new theory of autism is that it is a whole-body disease and not just a brain disorder. Autism, which is said to be linked to autoimmune illness and disorders of the GI tract, may also cause abnormal enzyme function, and thus inadequate digestion and nutrient absorption. Most of us already have observed that many kids with autism have very particular tastes in foods, preferring to eat the same things repeatedly and refusing to try anything new. So right from the start, these children are often at a nutritional disadvantage. But even if they did have a healthy diet, their … Continue reading →

Another Look at the Autism and Juvenile Diabetes Connection

As most of my readers are aware, I have two sons with juvenile diabetes (type 1) and another son with autism. For many years, I believed that our family was somehow unlucky in the roulette-wheel of life. I couldn’t imagine these two conditions which seem so different could be linked. I Love Hearing From Parents! For me, one of the most rewarding things about blogging for Families.com has been the opportunity to receive personal emails from mothers and fathers in all parts of the USA, and even England, Germany, Russia, and Australia. I’ve been surprised at the number of responses … Continue reading →

Do You Have BOTH Juvenile Diabetes and Autism in Your Family?

A few days ago, I received an email from a mother in Florida who was responding to my blog entitled, Autism, Juvenile Diabetes, and Autoimmune Factors. She explained that like me, she has both of these diagnoses in her family. She has one child on the autism spectrum and another with juvenile diabetes. She also has a child who is considered “high risk” for contracting juvenile diabetes, but so far is free of the disease. She told me that she is aware of four other families living in her general vicinity who have children with autism and diabetes. However in … Continue reading →

Autism, Juvenile Diabetes, and Autoimmune Factors

Several studies have been done in the last decade indicating that families with autistic children have a higher prevalence of autoimmune illness. As I was reading about the autoimmune factors associated with autism, a chill went down my spine. For many years I have been perplexed as to how our family could have been struck with both autism and juvenile diabetes. It seemed like such bizarre misfortune to have two very different incurable conditions strike three of my sons. But perhaps there is a link. I remember when a nurse in my son’s hospital room mentioned that there might be … Continue reading →