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Development and linear growth in diabetic children receiving insulin pigment
1Department of Endocrinology, Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu Province, China.
Insights
Children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pigment showed delayed puberty and changes in body mass index (BMI), with girls becoming significantly heavier by final height. Linear growth was minimally affected.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis in childhood requires ongoing management, impacting growth and development.
- Insulin therapy is standard for T1D, but its long-term effects on pediatric development warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare linear growth and developmental milestones in children with T1D treated with insulin pigment versus healthy children.
- To investigate potential adverse effects of T1D and its management on pediatric development.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 57 Chinese children (ages 6-10 at diagnosis) with T1D were monitored until age 18.
- Data collected included height, weight, and developmental markers (puberty onset, menarche).
Main Results:
- Diabetic children exhibited delayed onset of puberty and menarche compared to healthy controls.
- While initial height SDS showed no significant difference, final height SDS was slightly lower in the diabetic group.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) shifted from thinner at diagnosis to heavier by final height, particularly in girls.
Conclusions:
- T1D and insulin pigment treatment can adversely affect childhood development, including delayed puberty, even with controlled glucose levels.
- Linear growth is only slightly impacted, but significant weight gain occurs by final height, especially in girls.
- Long-term monitoring of growth and metabolic status is crucial for children with T1D.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to ascertain if there are differences in the development and linear growth between a group of diabetic children who had been receiving insulin pigment and healthy children.
Methods:
A total of 57 Chinese children with type 1 diabetes diagnosed at the age from 6 to 10 years old (26 boys and 31 girls) were included in the study. Their height and weight and development conditions were recorded until they reached their 18th birthday.
Results:
Diabetic children were taller than healthy children at the onset of diabetes, even though there was no significant difference between them [male height standard deviation score (SDS): 0.34 +/- 0.93, female height SDS: 0.38 +/- 0.50]. When they reached their final height, they were slightly shorter than the healthy group. However, there were still no significant differences between these two groups (male height SDS: -0.42 +/- 0.95, female height SDS: -0.60 +/- 0.98). The median age at onset of puberty, 12.62 years in boys and 11.13 years in girls, was significantly delayed in diabetic boys compared to 10.55 years in healthy boys and 9.2 years in healthy girls. The median age at menarche in diabetic girls (14.15 years) was also delayed compared with 12.27 years in healthy girls. The majority of these diabetic children were thinner than the healthy children when they were diagnosed [male body mass index (BMI): 14.45 +/- 1.35 kg/m2 vs. 16.08 +/- 0.59 kg/m2, t = -0.63, p < 0.05; female BMI: 13.50 +/- 1.87 kg/m2 vs. 15.46 +/- 0.45 kg/m2, t = -6.67, p < 0.05]; however, as they reached their final height, they became fatter, especially the girls (male BMI: 21.43 +/- 1.62 kg/m2 vs. 20.8 +/- 0.00 kg/m2, t = 1.97, p > 0.05; female BMI: 23.95 +/- 2.37 kg/m2 vs. 20.3 +/- 0.00 kg/m2, t = 8.60, p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Even with well-controlled glucose levels, the development of children with diabetes who had been receiving insulin pigment were still adversely affected. However, linear growth had only been slightly affected. All patients, especially girls, became fatter when they reached their final height.
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