Longitudinal Growth in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To study longitudinal growth in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: Anthropometry, disease duration, insulin regimens and HbA1C recorded from patients with diabetes enrolled in a specialty clinic.

RESULTS: 160 children (75 boys; mean (SD) age 9.4 (3.3) y) were enrolled. 35% children had low (<25th centile) height velocity. Disease duration and HbA1C affected height velocity (adjusted for puberty). Children on basal-bolus had higher height velocity Z scores than those on a split mix regimen [(0.5(1.6) vs. -0.3(1.4), P<0.05)]. Children diagnosed before 5 years of age had lowest height velocity. Of the children who reached final height, 53% remained below target height.

CONCLUSION: Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus have lower height velocity compared to healthy children; those diagnosed at younger age were at higher risk for growth failure.