Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
To evaluate serum lipids in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its relation to glycemic control, in comparison with sex and age matched non-diabetic children.
METHODS:
Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile were estimated in 45 children (20 males and 25 females) with type 1 diabetes attending diabetic clinic at Sulaymani children hospital from the period of November 2005 till Jully 2006. Fifty health children (23 males and 27 females) admitted to the same hospital with acute illnesses like respiratory tract infections were randomly selected as controls.
RESULTS:
Mean total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were significantly higher in diabetic children compared to the control. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of HDL-C in both groups .In addition to that, diabetic patients with poor control have a significantly higher levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as compared to those with good control. A significant correlation between most lipid variables and HbA1c was observed in diabetic patients.
CONCLUSION:
Children with type 1 diabetes should be screened for serum lipids as significant lipid abnormalities are related to glycemic control. Both can be improved with dietary guidelines and insulin therapy.