Body mass index at the time of diagnosis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes in children.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the body mass index (BMI) distribution of children developing autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared with the general population and to assess factors associated with BMI at T1D onset. STUDY DESIGN: Children age 2-<19 years enrolled in the Pediatric Diabetes Consortium at 7 US pediatric diabetes centers at T1D onset were included. Eligibility for analysis required a diagnosis of T1D, ≥1 positive diabetes autoantibody, and availability of BMI within 14 days of diagnosis. BMI at diagnosis was compared with the general population as described by the 2000 Centers for Disease Control. Regression analysis was used to assess the association between BMI and various participant characteristics. RESULTS: BMI scores for the 490 participants were slightly lower than the 2000 Centers for Disease Control population (P = .04). The median BMI percentile for age and sex was 48(th), 11% of the children were overweight (BMI ≥85(th) and <95(th) percentile), 8% obese (BMI ≥95(th) and <99(th) percentile), and 2% severely obese (≥99(th) percentile), percentages that were comparable across age and sex groups. Higher BMI Z-scores were associated with African American and Hispanic race/ethnicity (P = .001) and lower hemoglobin A1c (P < .001), and diabetic ketoacidosis, age, and Tanner stage were not associated. CONCLUSIONS: Although the BMI distribution in children developing autoimmune T1D was lower than that of the general population, 21% of children were obese or overweight. Youth who are overweight, obese, racial/ethnic minority, and/or present without diabetic ketoacidosis should not be presumed to have type 2 diabetes because many patients with autoantibody-positive T1D present with the same clinical characteristics.

Accuracy and precision of the Axis-Shield Afinion hemoglobin A1c measurement device.

BACKGROUND: The Afinion HbA1c (Axis-Shield) is a newer point-of-care device for measurement of hemoglobin A1c (A1C) using a boronate affinity method unlike the more commonly used DCA immunoassay method (Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics). The Afinion's accuracy and precision, when compared with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and DCA methods, have not been established in pediatric practice settings. METHODS: Capillary blood was collected from 700 subjects with diabetes mellitus at seven Pediatric Diabetes Consortium sites. Each subject's A1C was measured locally using Afinion and DCA devices, and by a central laboratory (University of Minnesota) using a Tosoh HPLC method. In addition, repeated measurements on six whole blood samples provided by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) were taken at three clinical centers using the Afinion and DCA methods and centrally using the Tosoh HPLC method to assess the precision of each device. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation for measurements of whole blood samples for precision analysis was 2% for Afinion, 3% for DCA, and 1% for HPLC. In the patient samples measured at the seven clinic sites, the Afinion generated higher A1C results than the HPLC (mean difference = +0.15; p < 0.001), while the DCA produced lower values (mean difference = -0.19; p < 0.001). The absolute differences with HPLC were similar for the Afinion and DCA (median 0.2%) with a slight advantage for the Afinion when compared with DCA (p < 0.001 by rank test). The DCA tended to read lower than HPLC, particularly at high A1C levels (p < 0.001), while the Afinion's accuracy did not vary by A1C. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to the central laboratory HPLC method, the differences between the results of the Afinion and DCA devices are clinically insignificant, and the Afinion and DCA have similar accuracy and precision when used in pediatric practice settings.

Hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus in children with pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors for developing hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus (DM) in children with pancreatitis. STUDY DESIGN: Patients (from infants to age 21 years) hospitalized with acute pancreatitis (AP), acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP), and chronic pancreatitis were studied retrospectively. Subjects with known DM or cystic fibrosis before presentation with pancreatitis were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 176 patients met the study criteria. Of these, 140 had AP, 29 had ARP, and 7 had chronic pancreatitis. Severe pancreatitis was associated with hyperglycemia; 41% of the patients with hyperglycemia required insulin, and 8 patients (4.5%) developed DM requiring insulin by the time of discharge. These 8 patients with postpancreatitis DM were more likely to be overweight. Five of the 8 patients had a seizure disorder, and 4 had another comorbidity, such as mental retardation or cerebral palsy. Seven of the 8 patients who developed DM had a single episode of AP, and one patient had ARP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that hyperglycemia and DM can occur with pancreatitis. In some cases, postpancreatitis DM was associated with mental retardation, seizure disorder, and use of antiseizure medication. As opposed to adults who develop DM after chronic pancreatitis, children can develop DM due to a single episode of AP.