By Ryanne Paul, Integrated Diabetes Services Intern
The New Intriguing Data on the Relationship between Type 1 Diabetes and Height Stature
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the most common chronic disease in childhood. T1D involves the destruction of one’s Beta-cells. As a result, this causes an insulin deficiency which in return requires the individual to take subcutaneous insulin injections.
It is important for individuals to maintain optimal glucose levels to prevent complications. Researchers believe T1D can affect growth and lead to impaired height velocity causing less than normal height stature when reaching adulthood. Recently, researchers conducted a study to assess the adult height outcomes across the levels of glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D. The factors of gender, age of diagnosis, and timing of glycemic control with puberty.
Now, researchers have found poor glycemic control was associated with lower final adult height (below) and a higher risk of short stature in males but not in females.
Males: 2.91 cm
Females: 1.83 cm
The risk of short stature in females was higher when T1D was uncontrolled, and diagnosis was before puberty.
Adult height was lower for males only if they had poor glycemic control during or after puberty. The difference with males is the age of diabetes onset is not a determining factor.
In conclusion, researchers found in both genders not maintaining optimal blood sugar control results in lower adult heights.
Scientists found that female participants were more at risk for uncontrolled glucose levels during the prepubertal period. Scientists recommend females maintain optimal blood glucose levels despite the occurrence of pre and during hormonal changes. Scientists stressed the vital role of maintaining euglycemia to ensure normal growth in individuals with T1D.
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