Children with type 1 diabetes are more vulnerable to certain mental health problems They are more than twice as likely to develop a mood disorder They also are more than four times as likely to develop a behavior problem like eating or sleep disorders THURSDAY, July 18, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Children born with type 1 diabetes are much more likely to develop certain mental health issues than those without the condition, a new study warns. Kids with type 1 diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop a mood disorder and 50% more likely to suffer from anxiety than other children, researchers reported June 17 in the journal Nature Mental Health . They also are more than four times as likely to develop behavioral issues like eating or sleep disorders, researchers said.
However, the findings suggest this isn’t due to any specific health problem caused by type 1 diabetes. Rather, children appear to be vulnerable to “diabetes distress” resulting from the ongoing management of their chronic condition, researchers said. “This emphasizes the importance of prevention and sustained attention to the mental health needs of children and young people with type 1 diabetes,” said lead researcher Tomas Formanek , a doctoral student with the University of Cambridge in the U.
K. and the National Institute of Mental Health, in Klecany, Czech Republic. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system turns on the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin.
Damage to the pancreas destroy.
