Childhood diabetes mellitus in Ethiopians

Of 1088 consecutive Ethiopian diabetic patients registered over 9 years 80 (7.4%) were diagnosed at or before age 15 years. There were 48 girls and 32 boys, with mean age of onset of 10.1 years. Diabetes had been present 10 years or less in 62, 11 to 20 years in 15, and more than 20 years in only 2. Twenty-two were rural, 27 had poverty certificates. Twenty-three have known diabetic relatives. The original mode of presentation could not be verified in 16, 7 presented in ketoacidosis, 5 were diagnosed by a diabetic relative, and the rest presented with the rapid onset of classical symptoms. To date, 43 have been ketoacidotic at least once. No pancreatic calcification was seen in 34 abdominal radiographs. Three of 6 newly diagnosed patients tested had islet cell surface antibodies. Three cases, initially suggestive of 'tropical malnutrition diabetes', evolved into typical type 1 diabetes. Serious complicating illnesses were tuberculosis (6), bacterial endocarditis (1) and rhinocerebral mucormycosis (1). Six patients have had metabolic cataracts. Ten patients (12%) have died, 4 of ketoacidosis and 4 of diabetic nephropathy. Childhood diabetes mellitus in Ethiopians is clinically very similar to type 1 diabetes elsewhere.