Children whose mothers have type 1 diabetes are more likely to be overweight

New German research has shown that children whose mothers have type 1 diabetes are at higher risk of being overweight and developing insulin resistance, which could also exposure to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.

München and the Technical University of Munich examined data from 2,779 children with a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes. Children participated in one of three studies examining the mechanisms underlying type 1 diabetes, TEENDIAB, BABYDIAB and BABYDIET.

The researchers recorded the metabolic status and body weight of children from three months to 18 years of age. mothers with type 1 diabetes to children who did not have a diabetic mother, but who had fathers or siblings with type 1 diabetes.

The results show that children of mothers with For example, in mothers without diabetes, those participating in the TEENDIAB study are almost twice as likely to become obese.

Waist circumference, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance risk were also significantly higher if the mother had type 1 diabetes, even after taking into account other factors. such as the socioeconomic status of the mother

"Our study shows that children of mothers with type 1 diabetes present not only a significantly higher risk of having the disease itself, but also an increased risk overweight and develop insulin resistance ". -authors Anette-Gabriele Ziegler. "So we advise pediatricians to keep this correlation in mind, so that they can respond to the warning signs in these children."

Type 1 diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder in children, with previous research showing that parents with type 1 diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing the disease than those whose parents are not reached.

Previous studies have also suggested that children of mothers with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of developing a metabolic syndrome, possibly because of high levels of intermittent blood glucose in the uterus that have an effect. long-term metabolism and body weight. , the researchers explained.

The results were published online in the journal Diabetologia.