November 28, 2000

Bigger children may be at risk of type 1 diabetes

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children who are taller and heavier than their peers may be at increased risk of type 1 diabetes, new research findings indicate.
According to results of the study, obese boys and girls older than 3 years were twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than their thinner peers. The investigators also found that the tallest children had an increased risk of the disease, compared with children of average height.

The increase in childhood growth and weight gain that has occurred in most industrialized nations over the past four decades may be responsible for the concurrent rise in the incidence of type 1 diabetes, report Dr. Elina Hypponen from the University of Tampere in Finland, and colleagues.

The researchers explain that during periods of growth, the body demands more insulin. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar by clearing sugar from the blood after a meal or snack and depositing it into cells throughout the body to use as energy. The increased demand, however, stresses beta cells, which produce insulin. Over time, the cells fail to produce insulin.

Patients with type 1 diabetes cannot produce enough insulin to control their blood sugar and are usually required to inject insulin into their veins several times a day.

There is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, and uncontrolled blood sugar raises the risk of heart disease, liver damage, nerve disorders and blindness.

The findings, published in the December issue of Diabetes Care, are based on medical records from 586 children younger than 15 years who were diagnosed with diabetes in Finland over a 3-year period, and 571 children without diabetes.

In Finland, the rate of type 1 diabetes has more than quadrupled since the early 1950s, the authors note. At the same time, increases in average height have been observed in many developed countries.

While several studies have demonstrated the association between obesity and risk of type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes, the current study is among the first to observe an association between obesity and type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in children.