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Difficulties or mistakes in diagnosing type 1 diabetes in children?--demographic factors influencing delayed

Małgorzata Pawłowicz1, Dorota Birkholz, Maciej Niedźwiecki

  • 1The Department of Paediatrics, Hematology, Oncology and Endocrinology, Medical University in Gdańsk ul. Debinki 7 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland. malgorzatapawlowicz@amg.gda.pl

Pediatric Diabetes
|June 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Delayed diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in children leads to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Younger children, especially those under 2, face the highest risk of diagnostic delays, highlighting the need for increased pediatrician awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe complication of new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in children, often resulting from delayed diagnosis.
  • Estimating the frequency of diagnostic difficulties and identifying demographic factors influencing these delays is crucial for timely T1DM management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of diagnostic challenges in new-onset T1DM in children.
  • To investigate the impact of demographic factors on the delay in diagnosing T1DM.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis was conducted on 474 children under 17 with new-onset T1DM in the Pomeranian region of Poland.
  • Diagnostic delay was defined as failure to diagnose T1DM on the initial visit due to various reasons including misinterpretation of symptoms or co-existing conditions.

Main Results:

  • Diagnostic difficulties were identified in 14.13% of cases, significantly contributing to DKA development (p = 0.00).
  • Patient's age at presentation was a key factor in diagnostic delays (p = 0.01), particularly for children under 2 years old (p = 0.00).
  • Family doctors most often made incorrect preliminary diagnoses.

Conclusions:

  • Diagnostic delays in pediatric T1DM are a major cause of DKA.
  • Younger age, especially under 2 years, is the primary risk factor for delayed T1DM diagnosis.
  • Enhanced awareness among pediatricians regarding T1DM in children is essential.
Abstract

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