ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: It is well known that linear growth in diabetic children is closely related to metabolic control and age of onset. Some studies showed growth retardation in diabetic children regardless of the degree of metabolic control, whereas others reported no growth impairment. Until now, no study has been done comparing linear growth between type 1 and type 2 diabetic children. Therefore, we compared the growth and weight status between type 1 and type 2 diabetic children. METHODS: 145 children with type 1 DM and 27 patients with type 2 DM were studied. Their growth status in height standard deviation score(HTSDS), obesity according to standard weight for height and body mass index(BMI), and HbA1c level at onset, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years after treatment were compared. RESULTS: There was no distinct correlation in HTSDS in type 1 and type 2 DM, but in type 2 DM obesity according to standard weight for height and BMI was higher than in type 1 DM. deltaHTSDS 5 years after treatment of diabetic children with poor glycemic control were significantly decreased(P<0.05), but there was no significant correlation between HbA1c and obesity according to standard weight for height and BMI. CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between the type of diabetes and growth status, but the poor glycemic controled group showed a significant decrease in deltaHTSDS. These data suggest that the growth of diabetic children could be impaired in the case of poor glycemic control and long duration of diabetes.