Earlier Onset of Puberty on the rise among Children with Type 1 Diabetes

A recent study conducted by the German Diabetes Prospective Follow-up (DPV) registry found the trends and factors associated with the onset of puberty in children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). The findings were published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Journal.

The study analyzed data from 13,127 children aged 6 to 18 years, revealed some concerning findings. Over the period from 2000 to 2021, the study discovered a significant trend towards earlier puberty in both girls and boys with T1D. In 2000, the onset of thelarche (Tanner stage B2) in girls occurred at an average age of 11.48 years, but by 2021, it had decreased to 10.93 years. In boys, gonadarche (Tanner stage G2/testicular volume >3 mL) decreased from an average age of 12.62 years in 2000 to 11.98 years in 2021. These findings indicate a clear shift towards earlier puberty, which could have far-reaching implications for the management of T1D in children.

The study's regression analysis identified several factors associated with the early onset of puberty in children with T1D. It was found that longer diabetes duration, higher Body Mass Index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS), and lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were all linked to earlier puberty in both girls and boys. Additionally, the study noted that migration background also played a role in this trend.