Source: Circulation  |  Posted 10 years ago

Beta cell destruction at diagnosis may be more extended in post-pubertal females than in males, according to researchers.

However, while both genders exhibit similar metabolic parameters following the introduction of insulin, more insulin is required by females to achieve good metabolic control three months after diagnosis.

Researchers from Rome, Italy, London, England and the United States, having noted that diabetes type 1 can be diagnosed at any age, sought evaluation of gender differences by a comparison of the integrated parameters of metabolic control at the point of clinical diagnosis and three months following intensive insulin therapy in pre-pubertal, pubertal and post pubertal patients.

Participants included 331 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus. The mean age of the group was 15 years plus/minus 8.1 s.d (age-range five to 23 years). They were stratified according to age at onset of diabetes in three groups. These included pre-pubertal (aged five to nine years), pubertal (ages 10-18) and post-pubertal (19 to 23 years old).

The researchers evaluated glycosylated haemoglobin, insulin dose and both basal and glucagon stimulated C-peptide at diagnosis, and again following three months of insulin therapy. A lower basal C-peptide was noted in females diagnosed after puberty by comparison with males, but no statistically significant differences were noted for other metabolic parameters say researchers.

Females had a significantly lower BMI, a lower basal C-peptide, higher HbAlc and required more insulin than males. Three months following therapy, only females had a notably higher insulin dose, with similar good metabolic control as assesses by HbAlc, researchers concluded.