Menarcheal age of type 1 diabetic Bengali Indian females

Abstract

Background: It has been observed that menstrual characteristics are generally influenced by lifestyle, socio-cultural and biological factors.

Aim: The present study examines: (a) variation in menstrual characteristics between Type1 Diabetic females of rural and urban adolescents, i.e. the resident status; and (b) whether these characteristics can be predicted from various socio-economic, stress variables related to place of residence.

Subjects and methods: The sample of the present study constituted 103T1DM females from West Bengal, a State of India. These girls belong to a Bengali-speaking ethnic group. Data on socio-economic variables and menstrual characteristics were collected using pretested questionnaires.

Results: Menstrual irregularity was common in our study participants, with age of menarche, but was not associated with current BMI, physical activity or insulin dose.

Conclusions: Our study displays that age at menarche is delayed in young women with T1DM compared to the concurrent overall mean age at menarche in the West Bengal population.