Boys at Greater Risk of Type 1 Diabetes than Girls; Says Study

Recent research reveals that boys face a higher risk of developing Type 1 diabetes compared to girls. The study disclosed that beyond the age of 10, girls experience a significantly reduced risk, whereas boys continue to face sustained vulnerability. Additionally, boys with a higher production of single autoantibody proteins, generated by their immune systems, are at substantially greater risk of Type 1 diabetes.

The team from the University of Exeter in Britain stated, “Men’s bodies may be associated with the development of autoantibodies, highlighting their significance in assessing risk.” The study importantly revealed that compared to most autoimmune diseases, men are at a higher risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. This research also brings to light that differences in immune systems, metabolic factors, and other variables between men and women can contribute to the stages of Type 1 diabetes risk.

For this study, the team examined 235,765 individuals affected by Type 1 diabetes. They utilized computer and statistical models to calculate the risk associated with Type 1 diabetes, adjusting factors that could potentially confound the outcomes. They observed an estimated risk of five years for both men and women after adjustment. Men exhibited higher levels of autoantibodies compared to women, with rates standing at 5.4% among men and 5.0% among women.

Sleep Variability Increases Diabetes Risk

Researchers from Boston, MA, and Manchester, UK, discovered that individuals who experienced the most variability in their nightly sleep duration were 59% more likely to develop diabetes over a 7.5-year follow-up period compared to those with the most consistent sleep patterns. However, this association was weakened when the data were adjusted for factors such as obesity, comorbidities, and lifestyle habits.