A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa and four other universities in a consortium called “Diabetes research in children Network (DirecNet)” found some areas of the brain grow more slowly in children with Type 1 diabetes than those without, according to findings published in Diabetes.
Researchers also found that children with the highest blood sugar levels and those whose levels fluctuate the most had the slowest brain growth.
It’s very important that glucose levels don’t drop too low in people affected by diabetes because very low blood sugar levels may lead to seizures or coma. On the other hand, this study suggests that high blood sugar levels might be harmful to children with Type 1 diabetes.
The study tracked brain structure and cognitive function in 144 young children with Type 1 diabetes and a comparison group of 72 children without diabetes over 18 months. MRI scans showed that the brains of both groups of kids were growing, but growth was slower in several areas of the brain in the children with Type 1 diabetes.
“This study shows we need to strike a balance between high blood sugar levels and low sugar levels, and avoid those extremes,” says Eva Tsalikian, a pediatric endocrinologist at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and one of the researchers on the study.“The better we control those levels, the less likely that a child’s brain development will be affected.”
“New technology, such as continuous blood sugar monitors, may help prevent large swings in blood sugar levels,” says Michael Tansey, a pediatric endocrinologist at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and another one of the researchers on the study.
The researchers also tested the children’s brain function with standard tests of IQ, learning and memory, and mood and behavior, but they found no significant differences between the two groups. The children in the study will be followed for another five years to see if they develop differences in brain structure and function.
This study received funding from the National Institutes of Health.