A new study from the University of Michigan has found that poor blood sugar control during the teenage years can lead to painful health problems later in life for people with type 1 diabetes.
The research followed children with type 1 diabetes for more than 30 years. It showed that teens who had high blood sugar levels were more likely to develop a condition called neuropathy as adults.
Neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet. It affects up to 50% of the 40 million Americans with diabetes.
The study, published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, found that kids diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before age 6 had trouble keeping their blood sugar under control during adolescence.
The average blood sugar level for teens in the study was 8.9%, which was higher than in both childhood and adulthood.
Dr. Eva Feldman, a senior author of the study, said it’s important to help teens with diabetes manage their blood sugar and smoothly transition into adult medical care. The study found that those with the biggest rise in blood sugar during their teen years had a harder time controlling it as adults and were more likely to develop nerve problems.
“Although we don’t fully understand why this happens, we know that high blood sugar can damage the body’s ability to use insulin and regulate glucose, which may lead to long-term problems,” said Feldman.
Other experts, like Dr. Kara Mizokami-Stout from the U-M Medical School, say that while blood sugar is a key factor, other health issues like poor circulation also play a role in developing nerve damage. Still, this research shows how vital it is to support young people with diabetes early on.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Scientists find a promising treatment for type 2 diabetes and findings of Certain type 2 diabetes treatment may bring heart risks.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about New type 2 diabetes treatment could help patients stop taking insulin and findings of Scientists find true cause of inflammation in type 2 diabetes.
The study is published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
