Stress can contribute to childhood diabetes February 13, 2009
Stress and difficult life events in the family can contribute to the development of diabetes in children. A correlation between such mental duress and diabetes-related autoimmune activity has been established in studies at Linkoping University in Sweden.
The studies involve 17,000 children born in 1997-99 and their parents. In blood samples the children, the scientists looked for two types of antibodies that occur in pre-stages of type 1 diabetes.
At the same time, the parents responded to a questionnaire were carried out on three occasions: at birth, at 1 year of age, and 2 1/2 years of age; 250 maternity and child-health centers from southeastern Sweden participated.
The findings, presented by developmental psychologist Anneli Sepa, showed an established correlation between an incipient autoimmune process among the children and a high level of stress among the parents.
Divorce and violence against the mother entail a three-fold greater risk among the 2 1/2 -year-old children.
However, the most common stress factors consist of more everyday things like difficulty sleeping and not being content with the role of parent.
“Our studies support the hypothesis that stress in the family causes stress among the children, which in turn leads to greater strains on the beta cells that regulate secretion of insulin,” said Anneli Sepa
Earlier retrospective studies have indicated several background factors underlying childhood diabetes.
They include the parents’ socioeconomic status, descent, and age, infections the children have had, cesarean sections and neonatal intensive care.
Stress can be the common denominator that triggers autoimmunity in the children.
Children included in the studies have not yet been genetically tested for type 1 diabetes. Some 20 of them have developed the disease, but their data remain to be analyzed.
The studies are part of a comprehensive research project called ABIS (All Children in Southeastern Sweden, in Swedish) headed by Johnny Ludvigsson, professor of pediatrics at Linkoping University.