Change in Body Mass Index in Youth in the First 5 Years After Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosis

Objective

Examine body mass index (BMI) trajectories in American youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) over the first 5 years following diagnosis.

Methods

Retrospective record review of BMI trajectories in youth with T1D diagnosed in 2015 to 2016.

Results

Near the time of diabetes diagnosis, 35.5% of youth had BMIs in the overweight/obesity range. These rates increased over time (P < .001), with 52.8% having overweight/obesity 5 years after diagnosis. Average age when BMI rose from healthy to overweight/obese or overweight to obese (rise group) was at 12.7 years, occurring 2.5 years after diagnosis. There were no differences between hemoglobin A1c, use of continuous glucose monitors, or use of insulin pumps between the rise group and those with healthy BMI throughout the study period.

Conclusions

Alarmingly high rates of overweight/obesity in youth were observed within 5 years following T1D diagnosis. Awareness and further research are necessary to address this independent risk factor for morbidities.