Low birth weight linked to increased type 2 diabetes risk

[DCUK NewsBot]

Underweight babies are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetologia. Researchers from Brown University, United States, examined over 1,200 women with type 2 diabetes, and roughly 1,800 healthy women without the disease. Those born below six pounds, an extremely low birth weight, were 1.27 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those born between six and eight pounds. They were 2.15 times more likely to have diabetes compared to women with a birth weight of eight and ten pounds. Researchers found that factors associated with an increased diabetes risk among those born below six pounds included insulin resistance, high systolic blood pressure, and blood vessel lining abnormalities. Brown University believes these findings could help deduct which physical processes could be altered due to low birth weight, and subsequently lead to type 2 diabetes. "To lower one’s risk of developing diabetes later in life, we need to further understand what may prevent some early life events such as low birth weight, particularly concerning specific nutritional strategies that may modify processes of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, and sex-hormone metabolism," said senior study author Dr. Simin Liu, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Brown University.

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[tigerlily72]

Well, as my Dad reminds me from time to time I weighed "2 bags of sugar" when I was born. I was about 4lb and born a little prematurely.

I'm currently pre-diabetic and making changes to try NOT to develop T2.

 

[Adelle0607]

I was born 5lbs (low birth weight) and my mum drank fizzy drinks during her pregnancy. She also had gestational diabetes when she had me.

 

[Adelle0607]

I was born 5lbs (low birth weight) and my mum drank fizzy drinks during her pregnancy. She also had gestational diabetes when she had me.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Underweight babies are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetologia. Researchers from Brown University, United States, examined over 1,200 women with type 2 diabetes, and roughly 1,800 healthy women without the disease. Those born below six pounds, an extremely low birth weight, were 1.27 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those born between six and eight pounds. They were 2.15 times more likely to have diabetes compared to women with a birth weight of eight and ten pounds. Researchers found that factors associated with an increased diabetes risk among those born below six pounds included insulin resistance, high systolic blood pressure, and blood vessel lining abnormalities. Brown University believes these findings could help deduct which physical processes could be altered due to low birth weight, and subsequently lead to type 2 diabetes. "To lower one’s risk of developing diabetes later in life, we need to further understand what may prevent some early life events such as low birth weight, particularly concerning specific nutritional strategies that may modify processes of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, and sex-hormone metabolism," said senior study author Dr. Simin Liu, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Brown University.

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I'm type 1, I was 5 1/2 lbs when born, but my teenager was 7 weeks early and even less weight so that's something I will take on board. Thank you for posting this.

RRB