Kids ‘likely to develop diabetes in winter’: Study

And,the trend is more prevalent in boys who go on to develop the condition,the study has found.

The study also found that diabetes centres further away from the equator were more likely to have greater numbers of cases in winter,‘The Times’ reported.

In fact,the scientists have found the correlation between seasons and onset of Type 1 diabetes,after analysing 31,000 kids from 53 countries. They found the link between the seasons and the illness was apparent in 42 of the 105 centres.

Elena Moltchanova,who led the study at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki said: “Numerous reasons have been suggested for the apparent seasonality of the onset of Type 1 diabetes.

“These include a seasonal variation in people’s levels of blood glucose and insulin,seasonal viral infections,the fact that young people tend to eat more and do less physical activity during winter and that summer holidays provide a rest from school stress and more opportunity to play outdoors.” Type 1 diabetes develops when the body is unable to produce any insulin and usually appears before the age of 40.

Victoria King,from Diabetes UK,said: “Results from previous studies in this area have been conflicting but this larger study shows a stronger correlation that is interesting,as we still don’t know exactly why Type 1 diabetes develops.

“Investigating why we might be seeing this pattern could tell us more about what may be triggering development of Type 1 diabetes.

“Despite this,the study looked at correlations over a relatively short period of time and not all centres that took part in the study showed the correlation between seasonality and diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes so more data are needed before more definite conclusions can be drawn.” The study has been published in the latest issue of the ‘Diabetic Medicine’ journal.