Microvascular complications in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objective screening of complications is an important part of diabetes care. the aim of this study was to investigate diabetic complications and related risk factors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (t1dm). methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted on type 1 diabetics who were over 11 years of age or had a diabetes duration of 2 years and included 155 adolescents with t1dm (67 male,88 female). the mean age of the patients was 14.4±2.1 years. mean diabetes duration was 6.3±2.9 years. the patients were screened for diabetic nephropathy,retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy. results: mean glycosylated hemoglobin (hba1c) level of the study group was 8.4%. the frequency of microalbuminuria and peripheral neuropathy were 16.1% and 0.6%,respectively. none of the patients had diabetic retinopathy. dyslipidemia and hypertension rates were 30.3% and 12.3%,respectively. risk factors associated with microalbuminuria were hypertension,higher hba1c levels,longer diabetes duration and dyslipidemia. conclusion: early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia as well as achieving a better metabolic control are important in prevention or postponement of complications in patients with t1dm. yearly screening for diabetic nephropathy should be started 2 years after the onset of the diabetes. © journal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology,published by galenos publishing.