Intriguing Data on the Relationship between Type 1 Diabetes and Height
By Ryanne Paul, Integrated Diabetes Services Intern
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood.
T1D involves the destruction of one’s beta-cells, resulting in an insulin deficiency. It is important for individuals to maintain optimal glucose levels to prevent complications. Most people equate long-term diabetes and poor glucose control with complications such as blindness, kidney failure, nerve dysfunction and poor blood circulation. However, researchers now believe T1D can affect growth and lead to less-than-normal height when reaching adulthood.
Recently, researchers conducted a study to assess adult height across the levels of glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D. The factors of gender, age of diagnosis, and glycemic control during puberty were taken into account. Interestingly, poor glycemic control during and after puberty was associated with lower final height in males, while females experienced shorter stature when diagnosed prior to puberty. Age at onset was not a determining factor for males.
Overall poor glucose control during growth years was found to reduce final height by an average of 2.91 cm (just over 1 inch) in males, and 1.83 cm (about ¾ inch) in females.
In conclusion, researchers found that glucose management in childhood and adolescence can impact final height – particularly in the prepubertal phase for females. Scientists recommend optimizing glucose levels despite the challenges created by prepubertal and pubertal hormones in individuals with T1D.
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