Clinical profile of type 1 diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care hospital

The aim of this study is to describe the clinical picture of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and provide an overview of participant characteristics. Hundred children and adolescents with a diagnosis of T1D are the subjects of the study. Detailed history, examination, complications, and treatment is recorded in all the patients. The patients' age ranged from 0.8 to 20 years with 70 % in the lower socioeconomic class (IV). The mean duration of diabetes is 4.8 years and the mean HbA1c is 9.4 %.The Mortality is 5 %. Prevalence of overt nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy is 10 %, 16 % and 5 % respectively. DKA episodes are seen in 37 % and major hypoglycemic episodes in 17 % of subjects. Hypothyroidism is seen in 12 % of patients. There is positive family history in first degree relatives in 36 % of the patients. Over two-thirds of patients are on premixed insulin regimen. Majority of patients are less than 10th centile for height and weight and there is no association of anthropometric parameters to A1c, duration and age of onset of diabetes. Nephropathy has a significant association with A1c and duration of diabetes (P 0.01) and age of onset of diabetes (P 0.05). Retinopathy is significantly associated with A1c and duration of diabetes (P 0.006), but not with age of onset of diabetes. Neuropathy is not associated with any of the variables. The present study highlights the need to mobilize more resources and improve health care of children with T1D, especially among the economically backward population.