A new study has claimed children are more likely to develop type one diabetes during the winter.
Diabetes UK report that analysis of 31,000 children from 105 diabetes centres across 53 countries found a correlation between the season and the onset of type one.
The charity said their research showed of the 42 centres which exhibited this seasonal trend, 28 centres had peaks of diagnosis in winter and 33 had troughs in summer.
The study, published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, also found diabetes centres further away from the equator were more likely to have greater numbers of new cases in winter. This winter trend was more prevalent in boys as well as in both sexes from the older age groups.
Victoria King, Diabetes UK research manager, said: ''Results from previous studies in this area have been conflicting but this larger study shows a stronger correlation which is interesting, especially as we still don't know exactly why type one diabetes develops.
'Investigating why we might be seeing this pattern could tell us more about what may be triggering the development of type one diabetes. Despite this, the study looked at correlations over a relatively short period of time and not all centres that took part in the study showed the correlation between seasonality and diagnosis of type one diabetes so more data are needed before more definite conclusions can be drawn.'
Type one diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and cannot be prevented.
Lead author of the study, Elena Moltchanova, statistician at the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, said: 'Numerous reasons have been suggested for the apparent seasonality of the onset of type one diabetes.
'These include a seasonal variation in people's levels of blood glucose and insulin, seasonal viral infections, the fact that young people tend to eat more and do less physical activity during winter months and, similarly, that summer holidays provide a rest from school stress and more opportunity to play outdoors.'
Diabetes UK report that analysis of 31,000 children from 105 diabetes centres across 53 countries found a correlation between the season and the onset of type one.
The charity said their research showed of the 42 centres which exhibited this seasonal trend, 28 centres had peaks of diagnosis in winter and 33 had troughs in summer.
The study, published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, also found diabetes centres further away from the equator were more likely to have greater numbers of new cases in winter. This winter trend was more prevalent in boys as well as in both sexes from the older age groups.
Victoria King, Diabetes UK research manager, said: ''Results from previous studies in this area have been conflicting but this larger study shows a stronger correlation which is interesting, especially as we still don't know exactly why type one diabetes develops.
'Investigating why we might be seeing this pattern could tell us more about what may be triggering the development of type one diabetes. Despite this, the study looked at correlations over a relatively short period of time and not all centres that took part in the study showed the correlation between seasonality and diagnosis of type one diabetes so more data are needed before more definite conclusions can be drawn.'
Type one diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and cannot be prevented.
Lead author of the study, Elena Moltchanova, statistician at the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, said: 'Numerous reasons have been suggested for the apparent seasonality of the onset of type one diabetes.
'These include a seasonal variation in people's levels of blood glucose and insulin, seasonal viral infections, the fact that young people tend to eat more and do less physical activity during winter months and, similarly, that summer holidays provide a rest from school stress and more opportunity to play outdoors.'
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