Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate association of type 1 diabetes in children with positive family history of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, rheumatic, allergic, coeliac and some other diseases.

Methods A case–control study was conducted in Belgrade. The case group comprised 105 children less than 17 years old who were hospitalized for the first time because of type 1 diabetes during the period 1994–1997. For each case two controls were chosen among children treated for skin diseases. Cases and controls were individually matched by age (± 1 year), sex and place of residence (all were from Belgrade). In the statistical analysis were used chi-squared test, Fisher exact test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, risk of type 1 diabetes was significantly associated with a positive family history for type 1 diabetes (OR 8.58; 95% CI 3.28 to 22.46), type 2 diabetes (OR 4.04; 95% CI 2.31 to 7.07), allergic diseases (OR 3.32; 95% CI 1.63 to 6.76), coeliac and Crohn’s disease (OR 11.02; 95% CI 1.14 to 106.89) and other diseases group (thrombocytopenia, alopecia areata, psoriasis, chronic uveitis and pernicious anemia; OR 3.63; 95% CI 1.05 to12.48).

Conclusions This study support the hypothesis that the risk of type 1 diabetes is increased in children with positive family history for type 1 diabetes.