Lipid profile in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate serum lipids in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its relation to glycemic control, in comparison with matched controls. SETTING Basrah Maternity and Children Hospital, Basrah, Iraq. METHOD Lipid profile was studied in 32 children (17 males and 15 females) with type 1 diabetes mellitus from October 1999 to September 2000. Seventy seven non-diabetic children (35 males and 42 females) admitted with acute illness in the same hospital were selected as controls. RESULTS The age and BMI was similar in both groups. The mean total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were significantly higher in diabetic children compared to control group. There was no significant difference in the levels of Apo O and Apo B in both groups. 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 management and insulin therapy.