Diabetes Most Often Begins In March

Science News Online ^ | 2-8-2006 | Ben Harder

[blam]

Diabetes most often begins in March

Ben Harder

A person's likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes varies seasonally and is about 50 percent higher in March than in August, according to a 6-year study.

Led by Péter Doró, researchers at the University of Szeged in Hungary analyzed 26,695 cases of the disease that arose in one Hungarian county between 1999 and 2004. The scientists recorded diabetes onset as the date on which each patient first received drugs to reduce blood glucose.

Type 2 diabetes onset peaked in March, at about 10 cases per 10,000 county residents, and fell in subsequent months to a low of 6.8 cases per 10,000 residents in August. Onset rose after August, the researchers report in the January Diabetes Care.

A study published last year of U.S. veterans suggested that people with type 2 diabetes have the greatest difficulty maintaining healthy concentrations of blood glucose in March and April, Doró's team notes. The researchers speculate that the preceding months of cold weather, inactivity, and overeating may contribute to the seasonal patterns.

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[King Moonracer]

Its all that damn Valentine's Day chocolate.

[IncPen]

It's obvious that Mardi Gras was the cause.

Don't rebuild!

[Steve_Seattle]

"The researchers speculate that the preceding months of cold weather, inactivity, and overeating may contribute to the seasonal patterns."

That would be my guess. I am borderline diabetic, and up North it's very hard to exercise in the dark and the rain, and in the winter eating and drinking reassert themselves as means of filling the time. Meanwhile, in August, you're nearing the end of the most active time of the year, with plenty of opportunity for exercise, and appetites typically shrink in hot weather.

[jdm]

Yeah, it's the Easter Bunny's fault, too. :)

[blam]

"That would be my guess. I am borderline diabetic, and up North it's very hard to exercise in the dark and the rain, and in the winter eating and drinking reassert themselves as means of filling the time. "

That's exactly my thoughts too.

[RichRepublican]

It's all those PEEPS! They're best when you let them go a little stale.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Well, Hell, I married my ex in March, as a month, March just really stinks, except for flying kites!

[Galveston Grl]

The effect of winter's heavy food and lack of movement?