High GI Diet Associated with Rapid Progression to Type 1 Diabetes in At-Risk Kids

Dietary factors may trigger or exacerbate the autoimmune disease process. A recent observational study found that a high GI diet increased the rate of progression to type 1 diabetes in at-risk children with high levels of islet autoimmunity. Islet autoimmunity is the development of antibodies made by the immune system that attack insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. These antibodies are considered a strong predictor of type 1 diabetes.

The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) follows 1,776 children at increased genetic type 1 diabetes risk. Diet is collected prospectively via parent-reported food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). 89 children developed islet autoimmunity and 17 subsequently developed type 1 diabetes during follow-up. The study found that more rapid progression to type 1 diabetes in children with islet autoimmunity was associated with higher dietary glycemic index, and marginally associated with glycemic load.

The authors concluded that higher dietary glycemic index is associated with more rapid progression to type 1 diabetes in children with islet autoimmunity. This is perhaps due to increased demand on the -cell in the pancrease to release insulin. Further study is needed to confirm this finding and identify the underlying biologic mechanism.

Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; 5 August 2008