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Insulin dependent diabetes in Asians
Insights
Type 1 diabetes, often considered rare in Indian children, was found to occur in Asian children in the UK. This autoimmune condition may be more prevalent in families who have migrated to the UK.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes is perceived as rare in Indian children, with insulin-treated diabetes often linked to pancreatic issues or malnutrition.
- Investigating the occurrence of typical type 1 diabetes in Asian children residing in the United Kingdom was crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if typical type 1 diabetes occurs in Asian children within the UK.
- To assess the prevalence and genetic associations of type 1 diabetes in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Ascertainment of all known Asian children diagnosed with diabetes in West Yorkshire.
- Clinical and genetic analysis, including HLA typing and islet cell antibody testing.
Main Results:
- Seventeen Asian children with type 1 diabetes were identified, with seven from multiplex families.
- Significant associations with HLA-B8, HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4, and HLA-DR3/DR4 were observed; HLA-B15 was absent.
- Islet cell antibodies were present in four of 18 subjects with short disease duration. The prevalence was estimated at 36/100,000.
Conclusions:
- Typical type 1 diabetes does occur in Asian children living in the UK.
- The condition may be more common in families who have migrated to the UK, suggesting potential environmental or genetic interactions influenced by migration.
Abstract:
Type 1 diabetes is said to be extremely rare in children in India, where diabetes treated with insulin may be due to chronic pancreatic disease or malnutrition. To see whether typical type 1 diabetes occurred in Asian children in the United Kingdom, all known Asian children with diabetes in industrial West Yorkshire were ascertained. A total of 17 such children were studied; of these, seven were from three multiplex families and two fathers from these families had diabetes. All children were ketosis prone and developed diabetes while resident in the UK. There were significant increases in HLA-B8 and HLA-DR3 and increases in HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR3/DR4, while HLA-B15 was absent. Islet cell antibodies, either IgG or complement fixing, were present in four of 18 subjects tested, all of whom had disease of short duration. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Asian children aged 15 years or less in West Yorkshire was 36/100,000, assuming complete ascertainment. It is concluded that typical type 1 diabetes may occur in Asian children and this condition may be more common in families who have migrated to the UK.