Young children with type 1 diabetes have slower brain growth compared to children without diabetes, according to a recent study.

American researchers found that continued exposure to hyperglycemia, or high blood sugars, may be detrimental to the developing brain. 

"Our results show the potential vulnerability of young developing brains to abnormally elevated glucose levels, even when the diabetes duration has been relatively brief," Nelly Mauras, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

For the study, Mauras and colleagues across the Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet) studied brain development in children ages 4 to 9 years old with type 1 diabetes using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive tests to determine if abnormal blood glucose levels impact brain structure and function at a young age. Children with T1D also underwent blood sugar monitoring using continuous glucose sensors.

They found that the brains of children with diabetes showed slower overall and regional growth of gray and white matter compared to children without diabetes. These changes were associated with higher and more variable blood sugar levels. Although there were no significant differences in cognitive function between groups at 18-months, the brain imaging results suggest that the children with type 1 diabetes had differences in brain maturation compared to children without diabetes. Some of the brain regions impacted are involved in visual-spatial processing, executive functions and working memory.

"Despite the best efforts of parents and diabetes care team, about 50 percent of all blood glucose concentrations during the study were measured in the high range. Remarkably, the cognitive tests remained normal, but whether these observed changes will ultimately impact brain function will need further study," Mauras said.

Researchers hope to determine if the differences observed with brain imaging can improve with better glucose control.

The findings are detailed in the December issue of Diabetes.