Menarche Onset Delayed in Young Diabetic Women

There appears to be an association between increased total glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) levels and increased age at menarche in young women with type 1 diabetes.

Lead investigator Dr. Kirstie K. Danielson stated that, "delay in the onset of menstruation in girls is associated with decreased bone density and changes in the reproductive cycle in women, so there is the potential for future bone and reproductive complications."

Information on the subject is limited and to further investigate the influence of GHb levels and other factors, Dr. Danielson and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin, Madison examined data on a follow-up study of a population-based incident diabetes type 1 cohort enrolled in the early 1990s.

By 2002, 188 of the 288 the female participants had reported menarche. The mean age at menarche in this group was 12.78 years, significantly greater (p = 0.01) than the 12.54-year figure for the US.

Overall 105 of the subjects were diagnosed with diabetes before menarche, but age at menarche and diagnosis were not associated. However, in the 3 years before menarche, age at menarche was delayed by 1.3 months for each 1% increase in mean total GHb level.

The researchers concede that the study had limitations, but conclude that "delayed menarche could potentially be minimized with improved GHb levels."

"The delay in menarche," added Dr. Danielson, "may also be a marker for other hormonal abnormalities in young women with type 1 diabetes — with unknown consequences."

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005;90:6466-6471.

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