# Geospatial clustering of type 1 diabetes in Sweden: a cohort study based on all residential locations from birth to diagnosis

## TL;DR

This study finds that type 1 diabetes in Sweden is more common in rural areas and linked to early childhood environments.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach using all residential locations from birth to diagnosis to identify geospatial clusters of type 1 diabetes risk.

## Key findings

- Higher incidence of type 1 diabetes was found in rural, low-density areas of central Sweden.
- Early childhood (first 5 years) residential environments were most strongly associated with diabetes risk clusters.
- High-risk clusters were linked to forested and agricultural areas, while low-risk clusters were in urban or open non-agricultural areas.

## Abstract

Type 1 diabetes develops gradually, and previous exposures may influence incidence. We aimed to assess the geographical variation in type 1 diabetes incidence in Sweden by considering all residential locations from birth to diagnosis in individuals aged 0–30 years, diagnosed between 2005 and 2022. Significant high- and low-risk clusters were identified for different life stage exposure windows.

In 21,774 individuals with type 1 diabetes, all residential geographical locations from birth to diagnosis were geocoded. Geostatistical analysis of the incidence of type 1 diabetes was conducted at the municipality level using the most common residential location during four life stage-specific exposure windows (at diagnosis, the first 5 years after birth, 5 years prior to diagnosis, and from birth to diagnosis). Spatial scan statistics were used to identify statistically significant high- and low-risk clusters for each window. Land use and land cover within these clusters were also characterised.

Significant geographical variation in the incidence of type 1 diabetes was observed. The incidence was consistently higher in rural, low-population-density areas, particularly in central Sweden, and lower in major urban areas. The largest number of spatial clusters of both high risk (RR 1.29–16.0) and low risk (RR 0.32–0.73) was identified when using the most common residential location during the first 5 years after birth. High-risk clusters for this exposure window were characterised by forested and agricultural land, while low-risk clusters were characterised by urban land and open land other than agricultural land.

Our findings suggest that the development of type 1 diabetes in Sweden varies geographically and is associated with specific features of the local surroundings in early childhood. This is important knowledge as a basis for identifying possible environmental risk factors and the relationship with risk of type 1 diabetes in future studies.

The online version contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00125-026-06675-9.