[Changes in the small joints, skin and lungs in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes]

In patients with juvenile diabetes a limited mobility of the small joints, changes of skin and pulmonary disorders were presented. In 108 children suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes the changes of joints and skin were examined, while in 22 patients spiroplethysmography was used. Limited mobility of the small joints was found in 50.92% of the juvenile diabetics and in 5.07% of the patients from the control group. 37.96% of the diabetics had thick, strained and waxen skin. Duration of the illness significantly influenced the occurrence of the articular and cutaneous changes. They were not found in a group of patients who had suffered from diabetes less than two years. When the illness lasted from 2-5 years, the changes of the small joints and skin were noticed in 22.73% and 4.54% of the children, respectively. In a group of patients who had suffered from diabetes for more than 10 years a limited mobility of the small joint was found in 89.28% of the cases, while 71.42% of the patients showed the signs of the skin changes. Vital capacity was significantly decreased (p?0.05) in a group of diabetics with serious changes of the small joints. Statistically significant of the total lung capacity, residual and forced expiratory volume were not found. The changes of the small and skin, as well as the pulmonary disorders, were the results of structural exchange of the connective tissue, which occurred due to increased glycolization of collagen.