TV linked to poor diabetes control

Thu Oct 6, 2011 3:18PM GMT

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Researchers say children with type 1 diabetes who spend too much time in front of television or computer may have poor control over their blood sugar.

A new German of 296 children and young adults with type 1 diabetes, showed that those who spent four or more hours per day in front of a TV or computer had higher hemoglobin A1C levels, Reuters reported.

The measurement of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control for patients with diabetes. Patients who have lower levels of the marker tend to have a better control on their blood sugar.

New finding revealed that the level of HbA1c was on average 9.3 percent for kids spending 4 hours or more in front of the TV compared to about 8.5 percent among peers who spent less time in front of a screen.

According to the report published in the journal Diabetes Care, health experts suggest adults keep their HbA1c below 7 percent, while levels in children and teens can go as high as 8.5 percent, depending on their age.

The study couldn't find out why kids who watched more TV had worse control on their blood sugar, said lead author Dr. Angela Galler of Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin in Germany.

Researchers, however, suggested that probably young people who spend a lot of time in front of a tube may be less active and also eat more unhealthy snacks that usually contain high levels of sugar and fat.

SJM/TE