[Growth in diabetic children as measured by height and weight (author's transl)]

Height and weight of 745 children (358 females and 387 males) under 18 years of age, presenting with insulin-dependent diabetes were compared with those of a French reference population. A similar comparison was done with a sample of 329 adults (155 females and 174 males) whose insulin-dependent diabetes had occurred before the age of 15. Results indicate that these children generally have a normal growth and reach a mean height (females : 158 cm; males : 170 cm) very similar to that of the reference population (160 and 172 cm, respectively). The same is observed for weight. However, growth retardation is observed at puberty, more frequently in males (10.8%) than in females (7.8%). Mean age at menarche is 14 years 5 months (13 years 10 months in the reference population). In males, it may be associated with insufficient treatment. This is not the case in females. There is no correlation between growth and glycosylated hemoglobin. No correlation with familial socio-economic level was found.