Abstract
The growth of 116 children attending the Diabetic Clinic was assessed in a retrospective study. Boys were tall at diagnosis and the skeletal age of boys and girls was advanced. Mean height standard deviation scores gradually decreased from the time of diagnosis :
♂ 1st year +0.38 SD, 5th year -0.41 SD, p <0.001.
♀ 1st year +0.03 SD, 5th year -0.68 SD, p <0.001.
Prepubertally height velocity was progressively and significantly reduced in both sexes during treatment, (p <0.01). Children diagnosed at puberty had a reduced mean height velocity during the first two years but after that height velocity was normal. In both sexes the pubertal growth spurt occurred at the same mean age as healthy controls but the girls had a significantly reduced mean peak height velocity (p <0.05). Menarche was delayed. Skeletal maturation progressed normally. Although some catch up growth may occur later height predictions based on the estimation of skeletal maturity indicates that a significant reduction in final adult height may occur in both sexes. If normal growth reflects good diabetic control then this study is further evidence that most children with diabetes are poorly controlled.
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Savage, D., Lee, T., Stewart-Brown, S. et al. The growth of children with diabetes mellitus. Pediatr Res 18, 1220 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00118
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00118