Final answer:
Most individuals with type 1 diabetes develop the condition before reaching puberty, but the age of the patient is not the sole determining factor in the development of type 1 diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is False. While it is true that most individuals with type 1 diabetes develop the condition before reaching puberty, the age of the patient is not the sole determining factor in the development of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, such as viral infections, also play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes.