Increased prevalence of overweight in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Height and weight were measured in young patients with type 1 diabetes up t o the age of 22 y. We found no difference between birth length standard dev iation scores (SDS), final height SDS and target height SDS. The study grou p of 89 diabetic boys and girls did not differ in final height from age- an d sex-matched healthy controls. SDS for height at diagnosis, +0.17 +/- 1.10 , exceeded that for final height, -0.06 +/- 0.97 (p = 0.037). Height SDS de creased between the ages of 11 and 18 (p < 0.01). In diabetic girls, but no t boys, final height SDS was significantly related to mean HbA(1c), during puberty (r = -0.40; p = 0.025). Weight gain occurred from age of menarche i n girls with type 1 diabetes. At the age of 18, diabetic girls were 6.5 kg heavier and had 2.7 kg/m(2) higher body mass index (BMI) than control girls (p < 0.001). Diabetic boys were not heavier than control boys. There was a significant relationship between mean HbA(1c) during puberty and BMI at th e age of 18 in diabetic girls (r = 0.47; p = 0.009). In diabetic females, b ody weight remained unchanged, HbA(1c) improved and the dose of insulin was significantly reduced between 18 and 22 y of age. The HbA(1c) improvement was most marked in patients with poor metabolic control. In conclusion, alt hough mean final height was normal in young patients with type 1 diabetes, growth was increased before diagnosis and pubertal growth spurt was reduced . Adolescent overweight was overrepresented; it related to poor metabolic c ontrol in females with diabetes, but showed no further acceleration in earl y adulthood.