Is this the real reason for the mysterious rise in type 1 diabetes?
If you have a child or grandchild with juvenile diabetes, you know that managing it is practically a full-time job.
Last year we were told that juvenile, or type 1 diabetes, is on the rise, but nobody really knew why.
They thought it might be because of higher birth weights… or some strange virus… or maybe even because of gluten.
But researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center have just discovered what might be the real reason cases of type 1 diabetes are skyrocketing.
And it’s none of the above.
Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in childhood, and it turns a family’s life around very quickly.
Moms, dads, grandparents and kids need to learn the routine of shots, jabs and how to eat — and learn it quickly.
As I said, last year a study found a mysterious rise in type 1 diabetes. And unlike with type 2, there was nothing but genetics and an unfortunate twist of fate to pin it on.
Until now.
The Langone researchers found that when mice are exposed to “short pulses” of antibiotics — the exact same kind of doses kids receive for typical childhood illnesses — they were twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes.
And by the time a kid is 10 years old, he or she will have received, on average, 10 separate courses of antibiotics (more on that in a minute).
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where the body kills off the special cells in the pancreas that make insulin. That’s why it can’t be controlled by diet and exercise as type 2 often can, but patients must take insulin shots constantly to control their blood sugar.
The researchers found that these common short courses of antibiotics can kill off special kinds of beneficial gut microbes that are believed to train the immune system not to attack itself. Without the benefit of these microbes, the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in the test mice went through the roof.
While it’s common knowledge that antibiotics kill off our friendly gut bacteria along with the bad bugs we take them for, this is the first time researchers discovered how that disruption can go way beyond some temporary discomfort and have lasting effects.
Now, of course we can’t just say we’ll never give our kids another dose of antibiotics.
But here’s the thing: a recent study found that up to a third of antibiotic prescriptions were not needed in the first place. Apparently instead of playing by the rule book where antibiotics are concerned, too many doctors have decided to just play it safe.
So here are two important tips we need to remember:
- Don’t ask for, or give your child antibiotics unless it’s absolutely necessary (this goes for grownups, too).
- Remember that antibiotics are only useful in treating bacterial infections, not viruses that cause colds, most sore throats and sinus infections, the flu and allergies.
And for those common middle ear infections that most all children get, experts advise you to allow around three days of recovery time before turning to antibiotics for help.
Sources:
“Antibiotic treatment increased risk for type 1 diabetes in animal study” New York University School of Medicine, August 22, 2016, medicalexpress.com
