A new study has found that parental diabetes can impact a child’s development. When we think of the health and development of our children, we know that our genes and influence can play a large part. However, studies are always being done to see just how large a part they play. These studies can help parents and medical professionals identify who may be high-risk, and what they need to watch out for. It can also help them set up interventions and plans to help a child should they end up needing it. The medical world is always evolving, and parents have to work with it.According to Medical Xpress, a new study has shown that parental type 1 diabetes can affect a child’s cognitive development. This study was done by Public Library of Science, and it can be read in full here.RELATED: Can Kids Get Diabetes From Eating Too Much Candy?The research shows that a child’s cognitive development can be impacted regardless of which parent has a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. This is the first study that shows the connection between a parent having a chronic disease and kids' lower school performance. More work may need to be done to look closer at it now that they have a basic understanding of what is going on.What was previously understood was that maternal diabetes during pregnancy has an influence on a child’s cognition, and that is because glucose crosses the placenta, and this can all impact a child’s development and health. However, this study finds that it doesn’t matter which parent has type 1 diabetes, and even a father can have an impact.To complete the study, researchers looked at data from registers as well as test scores in math for children in grades three and six and reading tests in grades two, four, six, and eight.

What they found was that children who had a mother or a father with type 1 diabetes had a mean score of 54.2. When they looked at children who did not have a parent with type 1 diabetes, they found that their mean score was 56.4, showing a difference of about 2 points. This is quite significant.

This study suggests that biology may not be the only factor when looking at what can affect a child’s cognition, but the environment can also play a part. If a parent has a chronic illness, the children may be in a home that has slightly higher stress, and this could be what is contributing to the lower test scores.

Sources: Medical Xpress, PLOS One