The Role of Viral Infections in the Immunopathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, resulting in lifelong insulin dependence. While genetic susceptibility-particularly human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles-is a major risk factor, accumulating evidence implicates viral infections as potential environmental triggers in disease onset and progression. This narrative review synthesizes current findings on the role of viral pathogens in T1DM pathogenesis.