Comparative evaluation of carotid intima media thickness in paediatric type 1 diabetic children and healthy children in Ibadan and Lagos, Nigeria

Patients with type 1 diabetes are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Carotid in-tima­media thickness (CIMT) measured by ultrasound is a marker of atherosclerosis and can predict future cardiovascular events.The aim of this study was to measure the CIMT in paediatric type 1 diabetes patients in Ibadan and Lagos and compare results with the CIMT of non-diabetic healthy control children. Carotid ultrasound was performed and CIMT measured in 70 subjects (35 diabetic patients and 35 non-diabetic controls matched for age and sex). Mean age was 12.8±3.2 years. A slightly higher, but non-significant mean CIMT was seen in diabetic cases: mean values in type 1 diabetes patients were 0.475±0.068 and 0.476±0.069 (right and left respectively) while in controls, mean values were 0.467±0.064 and 0.468±0.054 (p=0.618 and 0.575 respectively). The CIMT in both groups correlated positively with age and body mass index (BMI). Significantly higher mean CIMT values were seen in males with type 1 diabetes on both sides. However, there was no significant correlation between CIMT and duration of illness, insulin dosage, or blood pressure. CIMT is a safe and convenient measurement, which may be helpful in predicting an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease in children with type 1 diabetes

Ultrasound Prevalence of Gallstone Disease in Diabetic Patients at Ibadan; Nigeria

Background: Gallstones (GS) in the gallbladder (GB) can be responsible for a whole spectrum of disease entities which may lead to a surgical emergency with high mortality. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a debilitating disease that affects all systems in the body; and literature documents a higher incidence of gallstone disease (GSD) and its complications in diabetics than in the non-diabetic population. Most local studies on the association between GS formation and DM have focused on type 2 diabetics. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of GS in both type 1 and type 2 DM and elucidate the demographic and social factors associated with formation of GS in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Four hundred diabetic patients aged between 15 and 82 years had abdominal ultrasound to diagnose or exclude the presence of GS. Results: GS was found in 70 (17.5) of the 400 patients. Positive cases had a male to female ratio of 3:4 and 59 (51.92) were above the age of 40 years with type 2 DM. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m 2 was seen in 56 (48.3) patients; smoking and alcohol intake were insignificantly implicated. Jaundice was recorded in 8 (11.4) while abdominal pain was in 24 (34.3) patients; and 52 (74.3) patients of those with GSD had had diabetes for more than 4 years. Conclusion: GSD in DM is influenced significantly by age; BMI; and duration of the disease; while gender; social factors; and parity do not influence as strong associated factors