Hemoglobin A1c and body mass index in children and adolescents with IDDM. An observational study from 1976-1995

In adult patients with type 1 diabetes good metabolic control was associated with an undesired weight gain. In the present report the possible association of HbA1c and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (IDDM) was investigated in a long-term retrospective study from 1976 to 1995. Further, the relationship between BMI on one hand and age, gender, duration of IDDM, the number of units of insulin used and the number of injections per day on the other hand were considered. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measurements analyses of variance. The 208 girls and 201 boys were 5-17 years old and had diabetes for beyond one year. For analysis 2512 data sets, in part measurements on the same patient in the course of the disease, were available. In various statistical models, the results show that age, gender, the daily amount of insulin, and the HbA1c level (p<0.001-0.005) were associated with the BMI. Extremely high HbA1c levels coincided with a remarkably low BMI. Hence, in children and adolescents with IDDM it may be difficult to achieve a constantly good metabolic control accompanied by a normal body weight.