According to a study related to type 1 diabetes trends in Europe, the number of below-five-years children with type 1 diabetes would likely increase two times during the period 2005 to 2020.

Figuratively speaking, the total number of cases of type 1 diabetes among European children under 5 years would see a nearly twofold increase from 9,955 in 2005 to 20,113 in 2020; while that of children under 15 will rise nearly 70 percent - from 93,584 in 2005 to 159,767 in 2020.

The findings of the study, published in The Lancet, reveal that along with genetics, lifestyle factors and environmental exposures would also play a significant role in the increase in cases of type 1 diabetes.

The study, conducted by researchers from Ireland and Hungary, is based on 29,311 type 1 diabetes cases recorded in 20 European countries from 1989 to 2003. Resulting from insulin deficiency, type 1 diabetes cases need to be treated with regular injections of the hormone.

Lead researcher and epidemiologist Christopher C. Patterson, PhD - of Ireland's Queen's University - said that the rates of type 1 diabetes among children and young teens are increasing at an alarming rate. Patterson said: "We are likely to see more children with severe diabetes complications presenting at earlier ages if we fail to recognize and adequately treat disease in very young patients."