Children’s cognitive development can be affected regardless of whether their biological parents have type 1 diabetes, according to a new study.
The findings of the research were published in the open-access journal ‘PLOS Medicine’ by Anne Laerke Spangmose and colleagues from Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
The research shows for the first time that having a parent with a chronic disease like type 1 diabetes may be associated with lower school performance rather than maternal high blood sugar during fetal development.
The influence of maternal diabetes during pregnancy on the cognition of their children has been widely researched. Glucose crosses the placenta and maternal high blood sugar, and hyperglycemia can affect fetal development including the baby’s brain. There is little evidence on different diabetes subtypes and the effect of having a father with type 1 diabetes.
Anne Laerke Spangmose and colleagues obtained data from Danish registers and also on test scores in math for grades three and six, and reading for grades two, four, six and eight. The team included 622,073 children between 6-18 years old attending public schools over a seven-year period.
There were 2,144 children with mothers with type 1 diabetes, 3,474 children with fathers with type 1 diabetes, and 616,455 children from the background population. Children of mothers and fathers with type 1 diabetes had mean scores of 54.2 and 54.4 respectively, compared with mean scores of 56.4 in children from the background population.
The team acknowledge that having a parent suffering from a serious chronic disease like diabetes could cause stress and be detrimental to a child’s school performance. However, this study suggests a different explanation for the previously observed adverse effects of maternal type 1 diabetes during pregnancy on children’s cognitive development.
Spangmose added, “Lower test scores in the offspring of mothers with type 1 diabetes appear to reflect a negative association of having a parent with type 1 diabetes rather than a specific adverse effect of maternal type 1 diabetes during pregnancy on the fetus. Our recent large Danish cohort study, including 622,073 children, has shown this.”
Service dogs improve lives of veterans with PTSD: Research
Utrecht University researcher Emmy van Houtert recently studied the influence of service dogs on the symptoms of PTSD in veterans as they can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after stressful or traumatic events.
She also looked at the effect of the service work on the dogs. Service dogs appear to change the lives of people with PTSD for the better. The dogs themselves do not seem to experience any stress from their work.
PTSD is the result of one or more very stressful or traumatic events. Common symptoms are nightmares, anxiety and dejection. PTSD can affect a person’s life and that of their loved ones very negatively. Veterans, police and other uniformed professionals can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the course of their work.
Veterans feel better and experience fewer symptoms thanks to service dog
Service dogs have been used for years to help veterans with PTSD. Until now, there was no scientific evidence that service dogs can have a positive effect on the mental state of veterans. In the PhD research of Van Houtert, the effect of the interaction between a service dog and a veteran was studied, with the aim of improving the treatment of PTSD whilst guaranteeing the welfare of the service dog at the same time.
Results show that – thanks to their service dog – veterans are able to cope with their PTSD symptoms better. The physiological characteristics of PTSD, such as the stress hormone cortisol, did not change, yet the veterans felt significantly better: they had fewer nightmares, slept better and had fewer clinical symptoms.
Effects on service dogs
The effects of the work on the service dogs themselves were also examined. The dogs involved in the study did not show any signs of prolonged stress. Further research must now show whether this applies to all PTSD service dogs, and over a longer period of time.
Service dogs continue to be used
In summary, service dogs can change the lives of veterans with PTSD for the better. The well-being of the veteran is improved, and the dog does not seem to be stressed by the work itself. Further research on the interaction between service dogs and veterans with PTSD is important to improve the understanding of the effect of animals on veterans with PTSD, and to make this form of therapy more accessible for veterans.
Got a new job? Follow these tips to establish healthy boundaries, reduce stress
It’s exciting to start work in a new organisation, especially when you have landed your dream job. However, beginning a new job can make even the best of us anxious thinking about the work culture, people at the new organisation, performance and whatnot.
So if you want to get rid of this stressful phase, gradually follow the below-mentioned points to set healthy boundaries at the office so you can work smarter, gain respect and increase your productivity.
- Identify what’s driving you
The first and the most important step is to reflect on what underlies your desire to prove yourself. Many of your motivations are probably positive, such as having passion for the job or wanting to show you’re hardworking. However, certain fears can drive you to self-sabotage. Consider what implicit rules govern your performance. Naming your fears reduces the hold they have over you and empowers you to reframe beliefs around your self-worth and your work. - Self-Management
Don’t forget about self-management. Self-management skills give you the ability to manage your time wisely, which will help you complete your tasks without procrastinating. Also, with self-management, you will not only display important leadership capabilities, but also teach people how to treat you. - Articulate and share your personal preferences
Prioritise the items you think you should be focusing on. Think about the physical, mental, and emotional boundaries you need to be at your best. Set your working hours–and stick to them. Keep track of your breaks during the day. You can set calendar blocks for focused work or “no meeting” time. Also, be proactive about communicating your boundaries with your manager and team. Check your response times for emails and messages. - Apply your energy strategically
Many say the first impression is the last impression. And in order to impress the bosses during the initial phase of their job, a lot of employees try very hard. Remember, this can take a toll on your health. So it’s better to apply your energy strategically. Make sure you’re devoting energy to the highest impact areas. Discover your boss’ goals and expectations and then align your efforts with those top priorities so you can provide value. - Create and follow through on new habits
It takes time to adjust to a new place but don’t forget to use the opportunity to put bad habits behind you and learn something new from your new job. A new job offers a new beginning and a chance to reset. Learn to develop new skills. If you used to do all work on your own and hesitate to delegate work, then try letting go of this habit and start trusting your teammates.
Building boundaries is not an overnight process, it’s a steady development that will definitely help you reach the pinnacle of your career. So, get set, go and achieve whatever you have set out for.
