What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (n=120). Intervention: Visceral fat rating (VFR). Primary outcome: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) (β 0.22, p=0.01).

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to assess the associations between visceral fat, glycemic variability, and arterial stiffness in adults with type 1 diabetes.

April 14, 2026Open Access

Visceral fat rating, but not glycemic variability, is strongly associated with arterial stiffness in non-obese adults with type 1 diabetes

Key Result

Visceral fat rating was independently associated with higher pulse wave velocity (β 0.22, p=0.01) in non-obese adults with type 1 diabetes, whereas glycemic variability showed no association.

Key Points

The study aims to assess the associations between visceral fat, glycemic variability, and arterial stiffness in adults with type 1 diabetes.
Measured pulse wave velocity using oscillometric methods.
Quantified visceral fat rating using multifrequency bioimpedance.
Analyzed ninety-day continuous glucose monitoring data for glycemic metrics.
Evaluated correlations between age, visceral fat rating, glycemic variability, and arterial stiffness.
Median age of participants was 33.8 years with a mean BMI of 24.3 kg·m⁻².
Mean pulse wave velocity recorded was 7.47 ± 1.43 m·s⁻¹.
Each standard deviation increase in visceral fat rating was linked to a 0.22 m·s⁻¹ increase in PWV (p = 0.01).
Age and visceral fat rating were identified as significant correlates of arterial stiffness, while glycemic variability showed minimal association.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=120)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Are visceral fat rating and glycemic variability associated with arterial stiffness in non-obese adults with type 1 diabetes?

Population

120 non-obese adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), median age 33.8 years, mean BMI 24.3 kg/m2

Intervention

Visceral fat rating (VFR) quantified by multifrequency bioimpedance and 90-day glycemic variability (GV) metrics from continuous glucose monitoring

Outcome

Arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) oscillometricallysurrogate

In non-obese adults with type 1 diabetes, visceral adiposity and age are strong correlates of arterial stiffness, whereas recent glycemic variability plays a minimal role.

Main Result

Effect estimate: β 0.22

p-value: p=0.01

Limitations

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
Bioimpedance-derived VFR is an indirect estimate of visceral fat with limited spatial resolution
Arterial stiffness was measured oscillometrically rather than with applanation tonometry
Small and ethnically uniform cohort
Inflammatory status was assessed only using C-reactive protein

Abstract

Adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) exhibit premature arterial stiffening, but the relative roles of visceral adiposity and recent glycemic variability (GV) remain unclear. We investigated these associations in a group of 120 non-obese adults with T1DM. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured oscillometrically, and visceral fat rating (VFR) was quantified by multifrequency bioimpedance. Ninety-day continuous glucose monitoring data provided glycemic metrics including mean glucose, time in range, time above range, glycemic risk index, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, mean of daily differences, and coefficient of variation. Participants (median age 33.8 years, mean BMI 24.3 kg·m⁻2) had a mean PWV of 7.47 ± 1.43 m·s⁻1. Age was the strongest correlate of PWV (ρ = 0.59, p < 0.001) followed by VFR (ρ = 0.48, p < 0.001). In multivariable models, each standard deviation increase in VFR was associated with a 0.22 m·s⁻1 higher PWV (p = 0.01), comparable to the effects of systolic blood pressure and diabetes complications. Ninety-day GV metrics provided only minimal incremental explanatory value (ΔR2 ≤ 0.08), and none demonstrated significant univariable associations with PWV. VFR and age are dominant correlates of arterial stiffness in T1DM, while recent glycemic variability plays a minor role.

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Cite This Study

Kulecki et al. (Sun,) conducted a cross-sectional in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (n=120). Visceral fat rating (VFR) was evaluated on Pulse wave velocity (PWV) (β 0.22, p=0.01). Visceral fat rating was independently associated with higher pulse wave velocity (β 0.22, p=0.01) in non-obese adults with type 1 diabetes, whereas glycemic variability showed no association.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ddda4de195c95cdefd7be8 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-47105-5

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