RESUMEN
To describe the demographic characteristics and clinical presentation of Omani children with type 1 diabetes mellitus at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. A retrospective analysis of all children with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending the Pediatric Endocrine Unit at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman from June 2006 to May 2013. One hundred and forty-four patients were included in the study. The mean +/- SD of age at diagnosis was 6.7 +/- 3.7 years. The median duration of symptoms was 10 days [IQR; 5-14]. The most commonly reported presenting symptoms were polyuria [94%], polydipsia [82%], and weight loss [59%]. Diabetic ketoacidosis at initial presentation was diagnosed in 31% of the patients. Different insulin regimens were prescribed: multiple daily injections in 109 [76%] patients, twice daily insulin regimen in 23 [16%] patients, and insulin pump therapy in 12 [8%] patients. Family history of type 1 diabetes mellitus was present in 31 [22%] patients. There were no significant differences in presenting complaints [polyuria, p=0.182; polydipsia, p=0.848], duration of symptoms [p=0.331], reported weight loss [p=0.753], or diabetic ketoacidosis at presentation [p=0.608] between patients with and without family history of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss are the most common presenting symptoms. Family history of type 1 diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent among the studied patients. Diabetic ketoacidosis was found to be less common in Oman compared to other diabetes centers in the Middle East.