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Sex differences in the growth of diabetic children
G W Wong1, P S Cheng, T F Leung
1Department of Paediatrics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, Hong Kong. wingkinwong@cuhk.edu.hk
Insights
Childhood diabetes impacts growth differently in boys and girls. Diabetic boys tend to be tall initially but reach average adult height, while girls experience shorter stature and increased obesity risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus in children can affect growth and final height.
- Understanding sex-specific growth patterns in diabetic children is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal effects of childhood diabetes on growth.
- To identify potential impairments in final adult height.
- To explore sex differences in growth patterns and final stature.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 58 Chinese children (22 boys, 36 girls) with diabetes from diagnosis.
- Regular measurements of height and weight, converted to standard deviation scores (S.D.S.).
- Comparison of growth parameters against normal reference standards for Chinese children.
Main Results:
- Boys were taller than average at diagnosis (mean height S.D.S. +0.76) and achieved average final height (S.D.S. +0.14).
- Girls were of average height at diagnosis (mean S.D.S. -0.07) but attained below-average final height (S.D.S. -0.57).
- Diabetic girls tended towards overweight at final height (mean weight-for-height S.D.S. +0.76).
Conclusions:
- Childhood diabetes exhibits sex-specific effects on growth and final stature.
- Diabetic boys achieve average adult height, whereas girls are significantly shorter.
- Diabetic girls are at risk for becoming overweight or obese upon reaching final height.
Abstract:
To investigate the effect of diabetes on the growth of children and to detect possible impairment of their final height, 58 Chinese subjects (22 boys; 36 girls) with childhood diabetes were studied longitudinally from diagnosis. Mean onset age at presentation was 8. 70 years. All patients were measured and weighed at diagnosis and every 3-4 months during the follow up period. Their height and weight measurements were converted to standard deviation scores (S.D. S.) using normal height and weight-for-height reference standards for Chinese children established in Hong Kong. The mean height S.D.S. for boys and girls at diagnosis were +0.76 and -0.07 (P=0.015). The mean final height S.D.S. for boys and girls were +0.14 and -0.57. The final heights of girls were significantly shorter than their target heights. At attainment of final height for diabetic girls, their mean weight-for-height S.D.S. was +0.76 indicating that they tended to become overweight. This study demonstrates the sex differences in the growth of diabetic children. Diabetic boys were tall for age at presentation but they achieved average final heights while diabetic girls attained below average adult stature and they tended to become obese.