Abstract
To test the hypothesis that intensive insulin treatment and optimal glycaemic control are not fully protective against reduction of insulin sensitivity in children with type 1 diabetes. Cohort study of 78 normal-weight patients with prepubertal onset (T0 ) and follow-up waves at 1 (T1 ), 5 (T5 ), 10 (T10 ), and 12 (T12 ) years; matched for age and sex to 30 controls at T12 . Estimated insulin sensitivity (eIS) by three formulae; ultrasound evaluation of para and perirenal fat thickness; hepatic steatosis (HS); carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) at T12 . At T12, the 36 patients (46%) who had constantly or prevalently haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)<58mmol/l during follow-up showed better eIS indexes (p=0.049 to <0.0001); lipid profile (p=0.042 to <0.0001), reduced fat mass (p=0.012) and required lower insulin dose (p=0.032) than the 42 patients (54%) with HbA1c≥58 at T12. Patients (N=25) with eISEDC <8.77mgkg-1 min-1 showed higher cIMT (p<0.0001). HS was found in 6 patients (∼8%). In patients and normal-weight controls, fat mass (p=0.03), age (p=0.03), cIMT (p=0.05) predicted HS; eIS indexes (p from 0.04 to <0.0001) predicted cIMT. Body mass index, perirenal fat, fat mass, and triglycerides to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were associated with eIS indexes (p from 0.03 to <0.0001). Young T1D patients have reduced insulin sensitivity and higher cIMT. Adiposity, glucose, and lipid control over follow-up are likely to influence both. Enhanced adiposity seems of paramount relevance for the onset of HS in T1D patients alike in healthy youths.
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