Can you tell me if having diabetes affects your growth?

In general, having type 1 diabetes does not affect growth in height. In fact, there are somewhat conflicting reports, that children diagnosed with diabetes may, in fact, be rather tall — at least at the time of diagnosis.

Very, very, very poorly controlled diabetes can stunt growth in height. This can also delay the onset of puberty. Such children can sometimes have a “chipmunk” appearance to the face and an enlargement to the liver. This combination of findings in a very poorly controlled diabetic is called Mauriac syndrome.

Very well controlled diabetes generally does not lead to changes in height, but can be associated with weight gain which stresses the importance of appetite. People with type 2 diabetes tend to be heavy but their height generally is not affected. Type 2 has been relatively rare in children in the past, but, unfortunately, we are seeing more and more of this in children.

DS