Type 1 diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder observed among children. It is a well-known fact that children who have diabetic parents are at higher risk of developing the disease. Scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich revealed that children of Type 1 diabetic patients are at higher risk of showing insulin resistance and obesity. This work was published in the journal 'Diabetologia'.

Dr. Andreas Beyerlein from the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Zentrum München said, "Moreover, there were also sporadic indications from previous studies that children of mothers with type 1 diabetes are also at increased risk of having metabolic syndrome, as the intermittent high blood glucose levels in the uterus appear to have long-term effects on the child's metabolism and body weight."

A Total of three large studies aimed at studying the mechanisms behind type 1 diabetes (TEENDIAB, BABYDIET and BABYDIAB) was the launching point of the study. The lead author Anitha Pitchika said, "In total, we studied data from nearly 2,800 children with a first-degree relative with type 1  diabetes; Their metabolic status and body weight were tracked up to the age of 18."  

Anette-Gabriele Ziegler added, "This analysis was possible only now with our dataset which contains such a large number of mothers with type 1 diabetes; A few decades ago, mothers with this condition were often advised not to get pregnant due to the high risk of complications at birth."

By checking glucose levels, insulin resistance and waist circumference, Andreas Beyerlein revealed, "Children in the TEENDIAB study were for instance almost twice as likely to become overweight." Dr. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler further stated, "We would therefore advise that pediatricians should bear this correlation in mind so that they can react on early warning signs in such children."