Low Blood Glucose Affects Memory in Children With Type 1 Diabetes

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Frequency and timing of severe hypoglycemia affects spatial memory in children with type 1 diabetes, by T. Hershey and colleagues. Diabetes Care 28:2372-2377, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Children with type 1 diabetes who frequently suffer from bouts of extremely low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) sometimes have problems with spatial memory, or their ability to remember locations, places, and things like the layout of their homes. Having low blood glucose at a young age may have more of an effect on memory and brain function than having low blood glucose at an older age.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers did this study to find out if having very low blood glucose at an early age affects a person's spatial memory for a long time.

Who was studied?

Researchers combined data from three studies to get a study sample of 163 children between 6 and 18 years of age; 103 children had type 1 diabetes and 60 children didn't have diabetes.

How was the study done?

The children were tested in three studies. The children in each study took part in 2-hour mental tests. These tests measured spatial memory as well as verbal and nonverbal intelligence. The study then analyzed the chldren's history of low blood glucose, the ages of when they had low blood glucose, and how having low blood glucose affected how they did on the tests.

What did the researchers find?

The results of the study showed that having very low blood glucose more than three times lowered the affected the children's memory, especially when the instances of low blood glucose happened before the age of 5. The age of type 1 diabetes onset did not have any effect on memory.

What were the limitations of the study?

The limitations of the study are that researchers had no baseline data on the children and had to use lifetime A1C averages (a measure of long-term blood glucose) to measure diabetes control. Also, the results may not be completely accurate because low blood glucose events can easily go unnoticed or unreported.

What are the implications of the study?

This study showed episodes of very low blood glucose have a negative effect on brain and memory function of children with type 1 diabetes. There are many benefits to tight blood glucose control at a young age, and doctors and parents need to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of different treatment plans for childhood diabetes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hypoglycemia

American Diabetes Association Guide to Raising a Child With Diabetes, by Linda Siminerio and Jean Betschart (Alexandria, Va., ADA, 1999)

Conventional versus intensive diabetes therapy in children with type 1 diabetes: effects on memory and motor speed, by T. Hershey and colleagues. Diabetes Care 22:1318-1324, 1999