TV Interferes With Diabetes Control In Children

A new study shows that children with type 1 diabetes who spend hours in the front of a TV or computer each day may have poorer control over their blood glucose levels.

Though the direct connection could not be completely blamed solely on “screen time”, researchers could not explain a connection even when they took other factors into account. Those factors included such areas as the children's level of activity or exercise, weight and household income.

Researchers collected data from 296 children, teens and adults, all of whom had type 1 diabetes. Each of these individuals who spent a minimum of at least 4 hours per day in front of either a computer or a TV had higher levels of HbA1c, a hemoglobin blood test which is used to measure blood glucose levels over a three month period.

Individuals who spent the most time in front of screens averaged levels of 9.3 percent, while those who spent less time in front of screens averaged 8.5 percent. Experts recommend that HbA1c levels be kept at 8.5 percent or lower for children and teens.

According to the lead researcher in the study, Dr. Angela Galler of Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin in Germany, it is unclear why an increase in screen time translates into high glucose levels.

The researchers believe that one possibility could be that sitting in front of an electronics screen for long periods of time is often associated with snacking. Another theory is that since type 1 diabetes have to inject insulin every day that the screen time interferes with their scheduled injections. They believe that the individuals become so involved in what they are doing that they might postpone or even forget to take their injections.