Diabetes mellitus in childhood: a review

A pilot epidemiologic study of diabetes mellitus in the Sudan

Records of 523 consecutive diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in Wad Madeni, Central Region, Sudan, were reviewed to determine epidemiologic features and the relation between their diabetes and nutritional state. The male to female ratio was 0.97:1. The age at diagnosis ranged between 0-61 years with a mean age of 51.7 +/- 11.9 years for males and 49.4 +/- 11.4 for females. Obesity was a feature, in that 47.4% of females and 30% of males were determined to be in excess of normal body mass index (BMI) standards. A family history of diabetes was present in 67% of cases. Hypertension was present in 38% of cases; it was slightly more common among females than males (52% vs 48%), respectively. Insulin was employed for control of diabetes in 75% of cases, and oral hypoglycaemics in 20%. The remainder were on diet therapy alone. Thirty-four percent of the patients are rural dwellers that should be saved from disabling and even fatal complications of the disease in combination with malnutrition and infectious diseases that hasten death in rural areas. It is hoped that the interest of those concerned regarding public health implications of the findings in this study will be stimulated.

Clinical pattern of childhood type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in the Sudan

During a 10-year period, 101 children with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus were admitted to the Department of Paediatrics of the University Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. The age distribution of the patients showed a steady increase from age one to ten years followed by a sharper increase around puberty. A higher number of cases were diagnosed during the cooler compared to the warmer months of the year (p less than 0.05). Family history of Type 1 diabetes was reported in 14.9% of patients. Diabetic ketoacidosis was a presenting symptom in 82 patients (81.2%) and 93 patients (92.1%) have had at least two documented episodes of ketoacidosis during the follow-up period. Almost all patients were treated with bovine insulin given as a single dose per day. An initial remission period was not observed in any of the patients. Four years after diagnosis, the average daily dose of insulin used by the patients was greater than 2.0 U/kg body weight and the mean HbA1C was 13.4% (reference value 5.3-6.7%). Seventeen patients (16.8%) were known to have died during 399 person-years of observation resulting in a mortality rate of 42.6 per 1000 person-years of follow-up. Another 29 patients (28.7%) for no apparent reason did not attend a follow-up examination after discharge from hospital. Some of these patients might have died in other hospitals or at home. The study emphasizes the need for urgent measures to increase public awareness of diabetes and to improve methods of case-finding and management of diabetic patients.

Insulin secretion in childhood obesity

In 132 severely obese children (72 boys and 60 girls) who underwent institutional therapy, oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out on admission, and these children were divided into groups with normal and high insulin levels, in terms of the sigma IRI values obtained, on the basis of the reference value + 2SD calculated by Maruhama et al. From these children, those who had diabetes mellitus (DM) and those in whom DM was suspected were distinguished according to the diagnostic criteria of USPHS (Drash et al). The insulin levels were normal in 58 children and high in 64. Ten children were found to have DM, and 19 were suspected to have DM. Metabolism of the glucose load occurred at both normal and high insulin levels in some children. There was also a group of children in whom glucose metabolism was incomplete at high insulin levels and a group of children in whom glucose metabolism was not possible even at high insulin levels, showing an obvious DM reaction. These findings suggest that there is a difference in the sensitivity of the insulin receptors in these children. Age, severe obesity and a family history of DM were considered to be risk factors for DM. Although there was a moderate, positive correlation between sigma IRI and the obesity index and between sigma IRI and age, it seems that the level of insulin secretion varies considerably in obese children.

Insulin binding to circulating monocytes in children with insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

This study describes insulin binding to circulating monocytes in 24 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), five children with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and 10 healthy and 12 obese control children. Insulin binding to monocytes was greatly increased in untreated IDDM children with obvious ketoacidosis (5.51 +/- 3.49 vs. 1.91 +/- 0.47 pg/10(6) cells, P less than 0.01), whereas it was decreased in those without obvious ketoacidosis (1.39 +/- 0.30 vs. 1.91 +/- 0.47 pg/10(6) cells, P less than 0.01). Insulin treatment restored insulin binding almost to the level of control children in both ketoacidotic and non-ketoacidotic patients. Insulin binding to monocytes was markedly decreased in untreated NIDDM children with hyperinsulinemia compared with healthy control children (0.73 +/- 0.27 vs. 1.91 +/- 0.47 pg/10(6) cells, P less than 0.01) or obese control children (0.73 +/- 0.27 vs. 1.33 +/- 0.35 pg/10(6) cells, P less than 0.01). These data indicate that changes in insulin secretion and metabolic conditions might be involved in the fluctuation of the number of insulin receptors in IDDM children as well as in NIDDM children.

Childhood diabetes mellitus in Ethiopians

Of 1088 consecutive Ethiopian diabetic patients registered over 9 years 80 (7.4%) were diagnosed at or before age 15 years. There were 48 girls and 32 boys, with mean age of onset of 10.1 years. Diabetes had been present 10 years or less in 62, 11 to 20 years in 15, and more than 20 years in only 2. Twenty-two were rural, 27 had poverty certificates. Twenty-three have known diabetic relatives. The original mode of presentation could not be verified in 16, 7 presented in ketoacidosis, 5 were diagnosed by a diabetic relative, and the rest presented with the rapid onset of classical symptoms. To date, 43 have been ketoacidotic at least once. No pancreatic calcification was seen in 34 abdominal radiographs. Three of 6 newly diagnosed patients tested had islet cell surface antibodies. Three cases, initially suggestive of 'tropical malnutrition diabetes', evolved into typical type 1 diabetes. Serious complicating illnesses were tuberculosis (6), bacterial endocarditis (1) and rhinocerebral mucormycosis (1). Six patients have had metabolic cataracts. Ten patients (12%) have died, 4 of ketoacidosis and 4 of diabetic nephropathy. Childhood diabetes mellitus in Ethiopians is clinically very similar to type 1 diabetes elsewhere.

Insulin infusion pump treatment of Type I diabetes

This article examines the background studies that led to the use of portable infusion pumps for continuous administration of insulin and considers the applicability of pump treatment in current pediatric practice.

Growth and maturation of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

By plotting and evaluating height and weight measurements of children with diabetes on the Iowa Growth Chart, the authors have found that children with diabetes under their care who maintained relatively high degrees of metabolic control had normal growth patterns and that only children in lower degrees of control failed to grow at normal rate and had delayed maturation.

Diabetes mellitus and its effects on menarche

In a combined mail and medical record survey of 121 non-diabetic and 90 diabetic girls greater than or equal to 9 years of age, the mean age of menarche in the control non-diabetic population was 13.0 +/- 1.2 years and 13.4 +/- 1.2 years in the diabetics. The diabetic group was divided into those whose onset was before or after age 11 years (DM less than 11, DM greater than or equal to 11). The DM greater than or equal to 11 group had a mean menarchal age of 14.0 +/- 1.2 years and the DM less than 11 group, 13.1 +/- 1.2 (p less than 0.005). The DM greater than or equal to 11 group also differed significantly from the control group. The difference between the two groups suggests that the onset of diabetes near the onset of puberty may have a more disruptive effect on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis maturation that does the prepubertal onset of diabetes.

Effect of intensive insulin treatment on linear growth in the young diabetic patient

Although impaired growth is a well-recognized complication of uncontrolled diabetes, it has not been established whether less severe metabolic derangements commonly seen with conventional treatment adversely affected growth potential. To examine this question, growth velocity was measured in nine type 1 diabetic patients (age 14 +/- 3 years) before and after six months of intensive insulin treatment either with the insulin pump or with multiple injections, which lowered mean plasma glucose concentration from 270 +/- 96 to 105 +/- 55 mg/dl and total glycosylated hemoglobin from 12.4 +/- 3.0 to 8.4 +/- 1.5% (mean +/- SD). During conventional treatment, growth velocity (5.3 +/- 2.2 cm/year) was within the range of normal despite elevations in plasma glucose concentrations. However, growth velocity increased sharply during intensive treatment (to 9.4 +/- 3.9 cm/year, P less than 0.005), reaching values in excess of normal in seven patients. The increase in growth velocity observed during intensive treatment was associated with a twofold rise in plasma somatomedin-C values. Skeletal maturation, previously normal or slightly delayed, did not advance excessively. These data indicate that the metabolic changes accompanying intensive treatment may enhance growth in diabetic children, even in those with apparently normal growth velocity during conventional therapy.

Inhibitors of fibrinolysis in diabetic children, mothers, and their newborn

Late diabetic complications are often related to vascular changes and formation of thrombi in the altered vasculature. Contributing factors to thrombosis susceptibility of diabetic patients include changes in clotting factors, platelets, and inhibition of fibrinolysis. We have measured various fibrinolytic inhibitors in the blood of diabetic children, diabetic pregnant women and their offspring, and healthy controls. Inhibitors studied included 1) fast (immediate) antiplasmin, 2) slow (progressive) antiplasmin, 3) alpha-2-macroglobulin, and 4) alpha-1-antitrypsin. It appears from our study that high fast-antiplasmin levels, and low or missing slow-antiplasmin levels are characteristic of diabetic patients and of newborn of diabetic mothers. The reason for high fast-antiplasmin levels is not clear: Levels are not connected with the age of the patient or duration of diabetes, and are not elevated in response to a fibrinolytic process (fibrin decomposition products could not be shown to be present in the serum of diabetic children). Alpha-2-macroglobulin was significantly higher and alpha-1-antitrypsin significantly lower in diabetic women than in controls. In the other groups of patients studied differences in these inhibitors from the appropriate control groups were not statistically significant.

Glucagon suppression with low-dose intramuscular insulin therapy in diabetic ketoacidosis

The effects of low-dose intramuscular insulin therapy on endogenous glucagon secretion in diabetic ketoacidosis were compared prospectively with a conventional regimen. Ten patients, 4 to 15 years of age, who had 13 episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, were alternately assigned to either group. Either 0.1 unit/kg regular insulin was given every two hours im, or 1.0 unit/kg regular insulin was given, half subcutaneously and half intravenously, every 4 hours. In both groups, a significant and equal fall in both serum glucose and glucagon concentrations was observed. No complications were encountered. It is concluded that 0.1 unit/kg of regular insulin given im every two hours is as effective in correcting hyperglycemia and hyperglucagonemia of diabetic ketoacidosis as is conventional therapy, and avoids the risks of secondary hypoglycemia known to occur when the larger insulin dosages are employed.

Juvenile diabetes mellitus in Ethiopians

The clinical features seen in 27 Ethiopian juvenile diabetics, which were similar to those of juvenile diabetics elsewhere, are summarized in this first published report from an African country of childhood diabetes. Control was difficult and admission to hospital frequent because of poverty, uncontrolled diets and irregular supplies of insulin. This group of childhood diabetics represents 9.8% of patients attending a diabetic clinic in Addis Ababa. Survey of the published information on diabetes mellitus in African populations reveals that most series do contain several children and a significant number of teenagers. It is concluded that juvenile diabetes mellitus is not rare in African countries.

Continuous infusion of insulin vs repeated S.C. injections in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children

Thirty-two episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis in 30 children treated with conventional repeated s.c. injections of insulin every 4 h are compared with 18 episodes in 14 children treated with continuous i.v. insulin infusion. Fluid therapy, bicarbonate and potassium supplementation were essentially the same for both groups. Recovery as reflected in serum glucose, bicarbonate and the rate of rehydration, was smoother and more rapid in the children receiving continuous i.v. insulin, though the difference just failed to attain statistical significance in this small series of cases. There was, however, a marked difference in insulin administered (0.58 U/kg +/- 0.05 SEM in the children treated with continuous i.v. insulin infusion vs 2.54 +/- 0.27 SEM in the children treated with repeated s.c. injections). Hypoglycemia was noted in 11 and hypokalemia in 10 children on conventional insulin therapy given every 4 h s.c. In contrast, there was no hypoglycemia and only one case of hypokalemia with the i.v. insulin infusion.

Diabetics in school. Knowledge and attitudes of school staff in relation to juvenile diabetics

The purpose of this study was to assess whether the schools satisfy the special requirements of diabetic pupils. Both school staff and parents were of the opinion that diabetic pupils need special consideration at school. However, the results reveal an inadequate knowledge of the basic facts about diabetes and its treatment--a situation which could have dangerous consequences for the child and complicate its schooling in a number of ways. The treatment of juvenile diabetes may also become difficult to manage. Most school staff seemed to lack any source of information about diabetes. The contact between parents and school was not always sufficient and information from the hospital was seldom adequate. At present the school cannot be expected to participate in the treatment of diabetes in the way that could be desired. Improved information of school staff on the subject is recommended, as well as early and repeated contacts between hospital and school. These conclusions are drawn from an investigation in which 308 school staff members and the parents of 61 diabetic pupils answered questiomaires.

Continuous low-dose infusion of insulin in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children

Twelve diabetic children--eight in ketoacidosis, three with insulin refractory hyperglycemia, and one postoperative patient--were treated with continuous, low-dose, intravenous infusion of insulin. The eight ketoacidotic children with a mean serum glucose concentration on admission of 631 mg/dl and bicarbonate value of 6.8 mM/1 were given regular insulin, 0.1 U/kg, slowly by bolus injection followed by a sustaining infusion of 0.1 U/kg/hour. Plasma glucose concentration fell at a mean rate of 82 mg/dl/hour. Euglycemia with concomitant improvement in the metabolic disorder was achieved with a mean dose of insulin, 0.68 U/kg, given over four to 10 hours. Mean plasma insulin in those children who had not previously received insulin was 55 muU/ml, well within the normal physiologic range. Growth hormone and serum triglyceride levels, low initially, rose with insulin therapy before returning to control values. Continuous low-dose insulin infusion is simple, safe, and effective, avoids confusion and empiricism, and appears to be the method of choice for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis or insulin resistance.