Early Occurrence Cases of Diabetes Mellitus: Clinical Picture in Two Major Tertiary Care Hospitals in India.

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in childhood. However, very limited information is available on this disease. This study was done to assess risk factors, clinical features and management practices in T1D patients. A review of records of 39 T1D cases admitted over the past five years in two hospitals was done. The mean age at diagnosis among males (n=21) was 19.9±10.3 years and among females (n=18) was 12.3±7.5 years (t=2.614, p=0.013). Mean age at diagnosis of patients who were underweight (n=7) was 9.9±4.4 years, compared to 17.8±10.1 years among patients (n=32) with normal or overweight status (t=2.028, p=0.05). The family history of T1D was present among 7(18.0%) cases. The most common symptoms among the cases were fatigue 22(56.4%), polyuria 19(48.7%) and polydipsia 18(46.1%). The most common sign was weight loss 27(69.2%). The most common complications were diabetic nephropathy and skin infections seen each among 10(25.6%) cases. Mean duration of T1D was significantly more among patients with diabetic nephropathy (p<0.001), compared to those without. Mean HbA1c value among patients was 12.9±2.7. It was significantly more among patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) (p=0.012). A short-acting insulin was used in the management of T1D among 59.5% cases. The outcome of the management showed a loss of one patient who developed DKA. Routine growth monitoring and blood glucose analysis is required among T1D cases. The present study provides a database of risk factors, clinical features, and management practices among patients with T1D in this region and addresses several issues important to both patients and their care providers.