The connection has not at all been disproved.  There was an article that 
was a metaanalysis of all the studies or something which then went on to 
conclude that there was no evidence of protection.  However, if the 
child is genetically susceptible, the studies show anywhere from 10 to 
15 times increased risk if given cow milk protein in the first what? 2 
or 3 months of life.  Here are a couple of references.

Kostraba JN, Cruickshanks KJ, Lawler-Heavner J, Jobim LF, Rewers MJ, Gay 
EC, et al. Early exposure to cow¹s milk and solid foods in infancy, 
genetic predisposition, and risk of IDDM. Diabetes 1993;42:288-95

Pérez-Bravo F, Carrasco E, Gutierrez-López MD, Martínez MT, López G, 
García de los Rios M. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors 
leading to the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in 
Chilean children. J Mol Med 1996;74:105-9

In theory, one single exposure to cow milk protein could do the trick 
which no amount of breastfeeding after could undo.  So ask the 
neonatologists how many of their "exclusively breastfed" babies get *no 
cow milk formula* in the first few days, even the full term healthy 
newborns.  That would be a huge confounding factor in any study.

These neonatologists are believing what they want to believe, regardless 
of the evidence.  We are all guilty of this to a greater or lesser 
degree, but when we discard evidence that the *physiologic* method is 
less risky, we are being very imprudent.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC