[Presence of metabolic syndrome among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus]. / Síndrome metabólico en un grupo de pacientes diabéticos tipo 1. ¿Una nueva variedad de diabetes?

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is related to insulin resistance and to type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may also develop this condition. AIM: To determine the prevalence of MS in patients with T1DM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross sectional study of 52 patients with T1DM aged 18 to 72 years (27 females) with 5 years or more since their diagnosis of T1DM. MS presence was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Acanthosis nigricans (AN), waist circumference (WC), daily dose of insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) and micro albuminuria were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was 25% (13/52). A higher daily dose of insulin was required in patients with MS (p =0.018), with AN (p =0.022) and with obesity (p =0.002). A direct association between WC and the dose of insulin was observed (r =0.51; p <0.0001). No association was observed between MS, time of evolution of T1DM, HbAlc or micro albuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients with T1DM there was a high prevalence of MS.