Higher testosterone for type 1 diabetes boys

A recent study has found that testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels are higher amongst boys with child-onset diabetes, or type 1 diabetes . The study participants were compared with siblings who did not have diabetes .
The research was conducted at the University of Chicago and surveyed 48 participants who were diagnosed with diabetes before the age of 18. The findings of the study indicate that elevated levels of SHBG could be down to the lack of endogenous insulin, and higher levels of testosterone could be down to lower levels of c-peptide.
The research team reportedly commented: “This may have implications for sex hormone-dependent processes across the lifespan in boys diagnosed with diabetes as children .”
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed at a young age, but the term ‘child-onset’ dates back to when type 2 diabetes was commonly referred to as ‘adult-onset’ diabetes. More and more young people are nowadays diagnosed with diabetes at a young age.