The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), under 18 years of age, followed at the outpatient Diabetes Unit of the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital - State of Rio de Janeiro University. The cross sectional study included a total of 34 patients, 19 male, chronologic age of 12±3.7y (mean±SD), age at diagnosis of DM 7.8±4.1y and duration of DM 4.2±3.1y. The median (range) of standard deviation score (SDS) of height for age (SDS H/A) was -0.05 (-1.8 to 1.1). Only 8.8% and 20.6% of the patients had SDS H/A <-1.5 and -1, respectively. Even with similar chronologic age patients with <FONT FACE=Symbol>£</FONT>5y (SG1) had a greater SDS H/A than patients with >5y (SG2) of duration of DM, respectively: 0.26 (-1.47 to 1.10) vs. -0.77 (-1.88 to 0.73); p=0.03. Patients of the SG1 had a higher age on diagnosis of DM than patients of the SG2, respectively: 9.2+3.9 vs. 5.2±3.3y; p=0.01. The SDS H/A correlated with duration of DM1 (r=-0.47; p<0.01). Patients with appropriate control (glycated hemoglobin index - GHI <1.33) and non appropriate control (GHI <FONT FACE=Symbol>³</FONT>1.33) had SDS H/A significantly different, respectively: 0.29 (-1.69 to 0.85) vs. -0.43 (-1.88 to 1.10); p=0.02. The median of SDS of weight for age (SDS W/A) of this sudy was 0.04 (-1.64 to 1.53). Only two patients had BMI on the 85 percentile. In conclusion, the greater duration of DM1 the lesser was SDS H/A of patients with conventional treatment. Patients with appropriate control had better growth.
Diabetes; Diabetic children; Growth; Z Score
