September 16, 2003
Other Illnesses, Research: Causes and Prevention
Question from Columbia City, Indiana, USA:
A year ago, my friend’s eight year old daughter began experiencing the symptoms of precocious puberty (breast development and menstruation). Her estrogen levels were extremely high, and numerous tests have revealed no signs of tumors. Her daughter never showed any symptoms of diabetes, but on a whim, they checked her blood at a friend’s one evening and learned that she does indeed have type 1 diabetes. Are there any studies that examine a correlation between precocious puberty and type 1 diabetes?
Answer:
Type�1 diabetes and precocious puberty are not associated. Type�2 diabetes can be associated with obesity as well as precocious puberty (really precocious adrenarche). If this child is obese, has lipid problems, a positive family history of type 2 diabetes, and/or Acanthosis Nigricans then this may be all related to insulin resistance. This should all be a good series of questions to address to the endocrine/diabetes professionals providing her care.
SB
