Type 1 diabetes may be an infectious disease carried by animals, researchers believe.
The autoimmune condition occurs when the body stops producing insulin.
A new study of children with the disease has revealed a distribution pattern mirroring that of flu.
This has led scientists to suspect that, like flu or measles, Type 1 diabetes may be spread by an infectious agent.
The researchers studied cases of Type 1 diabetes in northeast England. They found that over a six-year cycle, cases not only varied in frequency but peaked at certain times of the year.
The pattern suggested an infection carried by a wild animal which triggered an autoimmune reaction in susceptible individuals.
Study leader Richard McNally, from the University of Newcastle, said: “There is a growing body of evidence that supports the idea that while children may be genetically predisposed to develop Type 1 diabetes, it could be triggered by infection.
“Our research builds on this by comparing how and where flu occurred and we saw a similar pattern with Type 1 diabetes.
“We don’t want to cause parents undue concern but it is important that we explore this as it opens up new avenues for research and may provide a new way to prevent the condition even starting.”
The study, published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE, involved 468 children under the age of 14 who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Clusters of cases were identified over periods of a few months. A similar distribution was seen in a study of flu cases in California.
In some years an increase in new cases during the winter months was also seen.
Previous research by the same team had revealed an unexplained peak in numbers of children with Type 1 diabetes every six years.
The evidence indicates that the condition may occur in “mini-epidemics”.
Consultant paediatrician Tim Cheetham, from the University of Newcastle, said the research was only possible because the team had access to data about the number and location of children with diabetes.
“I think many people will be surprised to learn that in 2013 we are still unable to count precisely how many children have diabetes,” he said.
“By establishing a register we are starting to address this problem, so in future we will have a much clearer idea of where people with diabetes were when they are diagnosed and the area where they live now.
“We are now helping to set up the North West registry as well and we need young patients and their parents to help us to ensure that we can be at the cutting edge of research into diabetes in the years to come.
“Importantly, this information can also be used to plan and organise medical services more appropriately.”
Type 1 diabetes is much less common than the Type 2 form of the disease, which is linked to obesity and lifestyle and affects nearly three million people in the UK.
Sufferers of Type 1 are completely dependent on injections of insulin, which they administer themselves.