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Nationwide cross-sectional survey of 3560 children and adolescents with diabetes in Italy

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Abstract

Clinical characteristics and metabolic control in a large cohort of children with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) were evaluated. Fifty-three Italian centers for childhood diabetes collected blood samples and clinical records from 3560 consecutive eligible patients aged 1.6–17.10 yr with disease duration >12 months. HbA1c determinations were centralized in a Diabetes Control and Complications Trial-controlled laboratory. HbA1c grand mean was 8.87±1.77%. Thirty-two percent of the patients had HbA1c values <8.0%. Puberty and disease duration were the main determinants of increase in HbA1c levels (<0.001 ). HbA1c values were inversely correlated to the frequency of blood glucose monitoring (p<0.001). Among the total population, 53.7% of the patients had 4 or more injections per day, 37.8% three injections, 7.4% ≤ 2 injections and only 1.1% was on pumps. Daily number of injections increased with age (p<0.001). Hypoglycemia episodes were reported in 17.6% patient-years and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in 1.0% of children, more frequently in those with HbA1c >8.8% (p<0.02). Two thirds of Italian children with T1DM have HbA1c>8% despite regionalized centers, multidisciplinary team approach, free access to appropriate diabetes care, education, frequent blood glucose monitoring and multiple insulin injections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14,I-43100, Parma, Italy

    M. Vanelli MD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Torino, Torino

    F. Cerutti

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti

    F. Chiarelli

  4. Department of Pediatrics, “G. Gaslini” Institute, University of Genova, Genova

    R. Lorini

  5. Department of Pediatrics, University “Vita-Salute”, “S. Raffaele” Hospital, Milano, Italy

    F. Meschi

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  1. M. Vanelli MD
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  2. F. Cerutti
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  3. F. Chiarelli
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  4. R. Lorini
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  5. F. Meschi
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the MCDC-Italy Group

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Correspondence to M. Vanelli MD.

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Promoted by Italian Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ISPED)

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Vanelli, M., Cerutti, F., Chiarelli, F. et al. Nationwide cross-sectional survey of 3560 children and adolescents with diabetes in Italy. J Endocrinol Invest 28, 692–699 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347551

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347551

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