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The occurrence of iron-deficiency anemia in children with type 1 diabetes
Rafał W Wójciak1, Ewa Mojs, Maia Stanisławska-Kubiak
1From the *Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences; and †Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Insights
Newly diagnosed children with type 1 diabetes show higher rates of iron-deficiency anemia indicators. Early screening and preventive measures are crucial for at-risk pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Hematology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of iron deficiency and anemia.
- Anemia can exacerbate diabetes complications.
- Early identification of iron deficiency is critical in managing pediatric diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of type 1 diabetes duration on the development of iron-deficiency anemia.
- To assess the prevalence of anemia indicators in children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes compared to those with longer disease duration.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 children (aged 6-17) with type 1 diabetes was studied.
- Patients were categorized by disease duration: newly diagnosed (ND), 1-3 years (FMD), 4-6 years (SMD), and >6 years (LD).
- Blood parameters including hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, MCV, and serum iron were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Newly diagnosed children exhibited significantly lower hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC, and MCV compared to those with longer diabetes duration.
- A higher percentage of ND children (26%) presented with at least three reduced blood parameters indicative of iron-deficiency anemia.
- Mean serum iron concentration was significantly lower in the ND group compared to SMD and LD groups.
Conclusions:
- Anemia is prevalent in the early stages of type 1 diabetes in children.
- Routine screening for iron-deficiency anemia is recommended for all children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
- Proactive preventive strategies should be implemented for children at risk of iron-deficiency anemia.
Objective:
A higher risk for iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia, has been noticed in children with early stages of type 1 diabetes. Anemia in diabetes is not uncommon and thus may contribute to disease complications. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of type 1 diabetes incidence on the manifestation of iron-deficiency anemia.
Materials And Methods:
The study included 100 children with type 1 diabetes, aged 6 to 17 years. The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in all patients was made on the basis of clinical symptoms and, at a later stage, on the basis of the occurrence of islet cell autoantibodies. The patients were divided into groups according to the duration of the disease: those with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (ND), those who have the disease for 1 to 3 years (FMD), those who have it for 4 to 6 years (SMD), and those who have it for more than 6 years (LD). Morphological parameters of blood have been measured by means of the flame atomic absorption spectrometry method: red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), acetylated HGB, hematocrit (HCT), RBC volume (mean corpuscular volume [MCV]), HGB mass in RBC (mean corpuscular HGB [MCH]), mean HGB content in RBC (MCH concentration), and serum iron concentration.
Results:
In the ND children, significantly lower concentrations of HCT and HGB as well as the amount of RBC and MCV have been shown, in comparison with the children who have type 1 diabetes longer: for HGB, compared with the FMD children; for HCT, compared with the SMD and LD children; for RBC, compared with the LD children; and for MCV, compared with the SMD children. Some significant inverse correlation has been observed in the MCH concentration in comparison with the children who have type 1 diabetes for more than 1 year. It has been shown that, when compared with the FMD, SMD, and LD children, more ND children are characterized by the coexistence of at least 3 reduced values of the morphological blood parameters associated with iron-deficiency anemia (26%, 17%, 7%, and 3%, respectively). At the same time, it has been found that the mean iron concentration in the blood serum of the ND group is significantly lower than that of the SMD and LD groups.
Conclusions:
The incidence of anemia in the early stages of the disease justifies conducting the screening in all children with type 1 diabetes and taking appropriate preventive measures toward the patients at risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
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