Rather, Don't Be an Underweight Type 1

I am glad to read a bit more on the study here. I was happy to read that this report states that there was no difference in mortality rates between normal weight and overweight subjects. Also, the study participants were all diagnosed between 1950 and 1980 so had been through many years of managing diabetes without many of the improved tools we have today. I also wonder what the quality of life and ease of control etc. was for people at different weights. Too bad I couldn't go to the conference and hear the talk myself. Did anyone else catch it?

An excerpt:

"'Although weight gain in adulthood is typically associated with increased mortality, this may not be the case for those with Type 1 diabetes,' said Trevor Orchard, professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, in a release.

'Gaining a reasonable amount of weight may be a sign patients are getting enough insulin and appropriately controlling their disease, which may partly explain why those who gained weight over time had lower mortality rates.'

The study also found that those participants with a normal BMI of between 20 and 25 and those with a BMI in the overweight range (25 to 30) had no differences in mortality.

However, participants who had an underweight BMI of less than 20 were much more likely to die prematurely.

The researchers caution that gaining weight with Type 1 diabetes is not advised as a protective measure, but they feel the findings cast a new light on weight recommendations for people with the disease.

The study was presented Friday at the 68th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco."