The study looked at 538 children with an average age of 13 who were affected by Type-1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body cannot make insulin, which converts sugar from food into energy, causing people with the disorder to regulate their blood-sugar levels daily.
The study's authors say encouraging children with Type-1 diabetes to watch less television may play an crucial role for improving blood sugar control and better health overall.
Chicago diabetes educator Monica Joyce founded a basketball camp for diabetic children and wasn't surprised by the results. Joyce said campers typically are asked how much TV they watch and are taught "they can get much better blood sugars if they're active."
Physical activity can lower blood sugar levels and snacking and overeating can increase them. While TV-viewing is often accompanied by snacking, the researchers didn't examine diet or physical activity.
