Abstract
A longitudinal study of height, weight and onset of puberty was performed in 162 children (84 girls, 78 boys) aged 1-14 yrs at onset of IDDM. Height was assessed at yearly intervals (9-15 monthly) with a Harpenden stadiometer by trained staff and related to the Zurich longitudinal growth study. Insulin dosage ranged from 0.62-1.05 Units/kg/day in 2 daily injections and Hb Al from 6.9-15.7 %, median 9.7 %, ref. 5.8-8.0 %). Height at the onset of IDDM was normal in both sexes, remained normal in girls, but decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in boys to -0.8 ± 0.8 SDS after 12 yrs of duration of IDDM. Onset of testicular growth (≥3 ml) occurred at 12.1 ± 1.2 yrs (ref. 11.8 ± 0.9, n.s.) and menarche was slightly delayed (13.9 ± 1.1 yrs, ref. 13.4 ± 1.0, p < 0.01). Adult height was normal in both sexes (+0.01 ± 0.96 SDS in 25 men, +0.23 ± 0.73 SDS in 32 women). There was no correlation of height velocity (SDS) with the concomitent Hb Al values. Relative weight increased significantly (p < 0.01) in girls to +14.5 ± 5.0 % after 13 yrs duration, but remained normal in boys (+4.1 ± 9.3 % after 13 yrs duration, n.s.). Growth, pubertal development and adult height thus was essentially normal in a group of rather well controlled diabetic children, but girls became significantly (p < 0.01) overweight in puberty.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stricker, U., Zuppinger, K., Mullis, P. et al. 172 GROWTH, PUBERTY AND ADULT HEIGHT IN CHILDREN WITH INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS (IDDM). Pediatr Res 24, 545 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00193
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00193