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09 Jun 2008
A new study has found that long-term weight gain may benefit people with type 1 diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health discovered that patients with type 1 diabetes who gained body fat over time were more likely to avoid premature death.
The findings indicated that people whose body mass index (BMI) increased every two years for a period of approximately 20 years were a third less likely to die than those with lower weight gain.
Trevor Orchard, professor of epidemiology, said: "Although weight gain in adulthood is typically associated with increased mortality, this may not be the case for those with type 1 diabetes.
"Gaining a reasonable amount of weight may be a sign patients are getting enough insulin and appropriately controlling their disease, which may partly explain why those who gained weight over time had lower mortality rates."
According to the report's authors, "these results are not a firm recommendation to people with type 1 diabetes to put on weight, but it does raise the possibility that weight recommendations in type 1 diabetes may be somewhat different than those for the general population, and emphasises the complex relationship between body fat and mortality in diabetes".
Diabetes sufferers are advised to contact their healthcare provider before making any changes to their diet.
Click here to visit the Diabetes Quick Guide
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