Type 1 Diabetes Onset

An international study conducted on large scale suggested that children below 15 years of age are more likely to develop diabetes during winter. 31,000 children from 105 diabetes centers in 53 different countries were involved in the study and it was found that onset of Type 1 diabetes and season are co-related to each other.

Out of the 42 centers that showed these seasonal trends, 28 centers showed peaks of diabetes diagnosis during winter. The trend to catch diabetes during winter is more applicable to boys and also both sexes in older children from 5 to 14 years of age.

The study was published in journal Diabetic Medicine and it was also found that the diabetes centers that were located away from equator are ore likely to increase number of diabetic cases during winter.

23,000 children from Britain are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes which is the 4th highest incidence in the entire Europe. The exact reasons for this condition are still not clear. As compared to Type 2 diabetes which is related to obesity and has more chances to develop in the middle age of life, type 1 diabetes typically has its origins in childhood only and needs life-long insulin supplements.

The condition is developed when the cells that produce insulin in pancreas get destroyed. The reason for the damage of these cells is not surely known but may be it is due to abnormal reaction of a person’s body to these cells. A viral or any other infection may also trigger the situation.

The study was led by Elena Moltchanova at National Institute for Health and Welfare at Helsinki. According to her, there are several reasons why Type 1 diabetes onset is more common during the winter. These may include seasonal variations in insulin and blood glucose levels in a person and the seasonal viral infections. Also children tend to eat more during winter and do less physical activities. During summers, children get summer holidays in which they are stress free and have more opportunity for outdoor activities.

According to Victoria King, the research manager of charity Diabetes UK, this study shows stronger co-relation that is interesting, especially when the exact causes of Type 1 diabetes development is still remain unknown until today. Investigating the reasons for why this pattern takes place can tell more about what may be the exact causes of Type 1 diabetes. Despite all this, correlations in this study have been made only for a short period of time and also that this correlation is not shown by all the centers involved. Therefore, more data will be needed before any definite conclusions can be made.