24-h Energy Expenditure in People with Type 1 Diabetes: Impact on Equations for Clinical Estimation of Energy Expenditure

Abstract Background/Objectives: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increase in resting metabolic rate (RMR), but the impact of T1D on other components of 24-hour energy expenditure (24-h EE) is not known. Also, there is a lack of equations to estimate 24-h EE in patients with T1D. The aims of this analysis were to compare 24-h EE and its components in young adults with T1D and healthy controls across the spectrum of body mass index (BMI) and derive T1D-specific equations from clinical variables. Subjects/Methods : Thirty-three young adults with T1D diagnosed ≥ 1 year prior and 33 healthy controls matched for sex, age and BMI were included in this analysis. We measured 24-h EE inside a whole room indirect calorimeter (WRIC) and body composition with dual x-ray absorptiometry. Results : Participants with T1D had significantly higher 24-h EE than healthy controls (T1D = 2047 ± 23 kcal/day vs control = 1908 ± 23 kcal/day; P < 0.01 ). We derived equations to estimate 24-h EE with both body composition (fat free mass + fat mass) and anthropometric (weight + height) models, which provided high coefficients of determination (R 2 = 0.912 for both). A clinical model that did not incorporate spontaneous physical activity yielded high coefficients of determination as well (R 2 = 0.897 and R 2 = 0.880 for body composition and anthropometric models, respectively). Conclusion : These results confirm that young adults with established T1D have increased 24-h EE relative to controls without T1D. The derived equations from clinically available variables can assist clinicians with energy prescriptions for weight management in patients with T1D.