Early diabetic complications in a population of young patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus despite intensive treatment

• Aim: To describe the prevalence of early complications in an unselected population of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) diagnosed in childhood with intensive insulin treatment from diagnosis.Methods: Eighty children and adolescents with DM1, age 7-22 years and DM1 duration >3 years, were studied. Neuropathy was defined as abnormal nerve conduction finding in ≥2 of 4 nerves (sural and peroneal nerves), nephropathy as albumin excretion rate ≥20 μg/min and retinopathy as all grades of retinal changes in fundus photographs.Results: The prevalence of neuropathy was 59%, of retinopathy 27% and of nephropathy 5% after 13 years DM1 duration. Mean (SD) long-term HbA1c was 8.4 (0.9)% (DCCT-corrected value).Conclusion: Even in a population with intensive insulin treatment from the beginning and fairly good metabolic control, the prevalence of subclinical neuropathy was high, while other diabetic complications were lower than usually reported.

Keyword

type 1 diabetes mellitus ; diabetic nephropathy ; diabetic neuropathy ; diabetic retinopathy ; prevalence

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