Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Despite the widespread clinical perception that hypoglycemia may drive weight gain in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), there is an absence of published evidence supporting this hypothesis.Methods
We estimated the body fat percentage (eBFP) of 211 youth (HbA1c 8.0-13.0%, age 13-16) at baseline, 6, and 18 months of the Flexible Lifestyles Empowering Change trial using validated equations. Group-based trajectory modeling assigned adolescents to sex-specific eBFP groups. Using baseline 7-day blinded continuous glucose monitoring data, "more" vs. "less" percent time spent in hypoglycemia was defined by cut-points using sample median split and clinical guidelines. Adjusted logistic regression estimated the odds of membership in an increasing eBFP group comparing youth with more vs. less baseline hypoglycemia.Results
More time spent in clinical hypoglycemia (defined by median split) was associated with 0.29 the odds of increasing eBFP in females (95% CI: 0.12, 0.69; p = 0.005), and 0.33 the odds of stable/increasing eBFP in males (95% CI: 0.14, 0.78; p = 0.01).Conclusions
Hypoglycemia may not be a major driver of weight gain in US youth with T1D and HbA1c ≥8.0. Further studies in different sub-groups are needed to clarify for whom hypoglycemia may drive weight gain and focus future etiological studies and interventions.Impact
We contribute epidemiological evidence that hypoglycemia may not be a major driver of weight gain in US youth with type 1 diabetes and HbA1c ≥8.0% and highlight the need for studies to prospectively test this hypothesis rooted in clinical perception. Future research should examine the relationship between hypoglycemia and adiposity together with psychosocial, behavioral, and other clinical factors among sub-groups of youth with type 1 diabetes (i.e., who meet glycemic targets or experience a frequency/severity of hypoglycemia above a threshold) to further clarify for whom hypoglycemia may drive weight gain and progress etiological understanding of and interventions for healthy weight maintenance.
SUBMITTER: Sarteau AC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10958738 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Sarteau Angelica Cristello AC Kahkoska Anna R AR Crandell Jamie J Igudesman Daria D Corbin Karen D KD Kichler Jessica C JC Maahs David M DM Muntis Frank F Pratley Richard R Seid Michael M Zaharieva Dessi D Mayer-Davis Elizabeth E
Pediatric research 20220622 3
<h4>Background</h4>Despite the widespread clinical perception that hypoglycemia may drive weight gain in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), there is an absence of published evidence supporting this hypothesis.<h4>Methods</h4>We estimated the body fat percentage (eBFP) of 211 youth (HbA1c 8.0-13.0%, age 13-16) at baseline, 6, and 18 months of the Flexible Lifestyles Empowering Change trial using validated equations. Group-based trajectory modeling assigned adolescents to sex-specific eBFP groups. ...[more]