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Decreased growth velocity before IDDM onset

R D Leslie1, S Lo, B A Millward

  • 1Department of Medicine, Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Diabetes
|February 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Reduced growth velocity is an early indicator of developing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This study found prediabetic twins experienced growth deceleration before diabetes onset, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus can impact physical development.
  • Identical twins provide a unique model to study disease progression.
  • Early detection of prediabetes is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate growth patterns in prediabetic identical twins before the clinical onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
  • To identify potential early markers for IDDM development.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective growth velocity assessment in 12 pairs of identical twins (one with and one without IDDM).
  • Monitoring of prediabetic individuals for growth deceleration, islet cell antibodies, glucose tolerance, and hormone levels.
  • Comparison of growth patterns between non-diabetic twins who later developed IDDM and those who did not.

Main Results:

  • A significantly higher frequency of reduced growth velocity was observed in non-diabetic twins who later developed IDDM compared to their diabetic co-twins (7/12 vs 1/12; P = 0.03).
  • Six of seven prediabetic twins showed growth velocity below the 3rd percentile before diabetes diagnosis, preceding impaired glucose tolerance in four cases.
  • Lower testosterone or estradiol levels were noted in prediabetic twins with decreased growth compared to their diabetic co-twins.

Conclusions:

  • Decreased growth velocity is an early and sensitive marker for the development of IDDM.
  • Growth monitoring may aid in identifying individuals at high risk for IDDM.
  • Hormonal changes may play a role in growth retardation preceding IDDM onset.

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