Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic metabolic syndrome characterized by impaired metabolism of glucose; morbidity and mortality come from acute metabolic derangement and from long term complications that affect small and large vessels.
OBJECTIVE:
The assessment of the long term complications of diabetes mellitus in children and young adults
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
The study included 150 patients with type1 diabetes mellitus attending the diabetic clinic of Children Welfare Teaching Hospital who were assessed for the presence of long term complications of diabetes mellitus.
RESULTS:
The total number of the sample was 150 patients with male to female ratio of 1:1.2 with median age of 12.2 years.
Long term complications occurred in 26.7% of patients; (75%) of them had diabetes for more than 5 years. These complications include eye complications (retinopathy and cataract) 12.6%, Renal complications (albuminuria, oedema, and hypertension) 10.6%, peripheral neuropathy 4.6%, limited joint mobility 6.6%, and short stature 17.3%.
CONCLUSION:
Long term complications were found in significant number of patients with type I diabetes mellitus which can occur in children with short duration of diabetes, and their frequency increases significantly with increasing duration of diabetes.