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Parental diabetes associated with early poor glycemic control in their children with type 2 diabetes
Children with type 2 diabetes had worse glycemic control, more hypertension and higher body mass index when their parents had diabetes, hypertension and obesity, according to research published in Diabetes Care.
“Most striking is the very early relationship between parental diabetes status and youth glycemic control,” the researchers wrote.
In the study, Ruth S. Weinstock, MD, PhD, of the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, and colleagues from other institutions, analyzed data from 699 youths (age 13.9 ± 2 years at baseline, 63.4% girls) with type 2 diabetes enrolled in the TODAY clinical trial, which was designed to compare the efficacy of three diabetes treatment regimens. Participants were accompanied by an adult caregiver, most of whom were the child’s parent (89.1%); of parents, 88.6% were mothers. Researchers recorded baseline caregiver data: 63.3% had obesity, and 43.6% reported having diabetes, 40.6% hypertension and 20.6% symptoms of depression.
Ruth S. Weinstock
Using regression models, researchers found that, compared with children of parents who did not report diabetes, children of parents with diabetes had higher baseline HbA1c levels (5.9% vs. 6.2%, respectively; P < 0.0001) and met study goals for glycemic control less often over time; 53.6% of youth with a parent with diabetes failed to maintain glycemic control on study treatment compared to 38.2% of youth without a parent with diabetes ( P = 0.0002). Of children of parents with hypertension, 40.4% also had the condition compared with 27.4% of children of parents without hypertension (P = 0.0008). Children of parents with BMI > 30 kg/m2 were also more likely to have higher BMI z-scores (P < 0.0001). Depressive symptoms in parents were associated with depression in study participants only at baseline (P = 0.0430).
Results may offer guidance for future studies to better understand possible environmental, genetic and/or lifestyle factors responsible for these findings. “Until these factors are better understood, youth with type 2 diabetes who also have one or more parents with diabetes, should be followed especially closely, since they may need early additional glycemic control therapy,” Weinstock told Endocrine Today. – by Jill Rollet
For more information:
Ruth S. Weinstock, MD, PhD, can be reached at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Editor’s note: On April 1, we corrected the headline of this article to clarify that parental diabetes is associated with poor glycemic control in children with type 2 diabetes and updated data in graphs 3, 4, and 5 to clarify study results. The Editors regret this error.
Disclosures: Weinstock reports participation in clinical trials sponsored by Eli Lilly, Intarcia Therapeutics, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. See the full study for the other researchers’ financial disclosures.