GROWTH CHANGES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH SHORT-TERM DIABETES

OBJECTIVE- Height and weight changes during the first 3 years of diabe tes were prospectively followed in 152 diabetic children and adolescen ts. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The study sample consisted of 152 Ca ucasian diabetic patients (84 boys; 68 girls) followed from diabetes o nset in the Paediatric Diabetes Unit and 80 Caucasian normal subjects (49 boys; 31 girls) assessed in the Outpatient General Paediatric Clin ic of the same hospital for routine examination and not affected by pr oblems that might influence growth. Diabetic patients and control subj ects were consecutively enrolled in the study between 1989 and 1992; d iabetic patients with positive markers for celiac disease (positive an tiendomysial antibodies) and thyroid disease (positive antimicrosomial antibodies) or any other chronic disease were not considered in the s tudy. Mean age of diabetic patients (8.9 +/- 4.1 years) and control su bjects (8.5 +/- 4.2 years) at recruitment in the study was similar. RE SULTS - At onset of diabetes, the mean height expressed as the height standard deviation score (HSDS) was significantly greater than the exp ected values (P < 0.0001) and was independent of sex and pubertal stag e. During the first 3 years of diabetes, HSDS decreased significantly (F = 6.9; P < 0.001). Meanwhile, growth velocity as standard deviation score (SDS) decreased significantly between the Ist and 2nd year (-0. 12 +/- 2.1; -0.76 +/- 2.6, respectively; P < 0.05), but it was similar between the 2nd and 3rd year of diabetes. Weight expressed as SDS inc reased significantly during the first 2 years of diabetes but not ther eafter. Height changes during the study period were independent from p ubertal stage and sex. Metabolic control and insulin requirement, in o ur series, were not clearly related to height and weight changes. CONC LUSIONS - Diabetic patients at onset of diabetes are taller than age- and sex-matched nondiabetic subjects. During the first years of the di sease, linear growth decreases independently of metabolic control and weight changes.