Microvascular outcomes of pediatric-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus: A single-center observational case reviews in Sana’a, Yemen

Abstract

Microvascular complications of pediatric-onset type 1 diabetes are common in low-income countries. In this study, we aimed at reviewing microvascular outcomes in 6 cases with type 1 diabetes over 14 to 31 years of follow-up. Severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and/or diabetic macular edema (maculopathy) (DME) and overt diabetic nephropathy (macroalbuminuria) were seen among 4 of 6 patients, whereas severe diabetic peripheral neuropathy with Charcot neuroarthropathy was seen in 1 patient only, who had the longest duration of follow-up. The weighted mean (SD) (95% confidence interval) hemoglobin A1c was 8.9 (1.6) (8.4-9.4)% [74 (17) (68-80) mmol/mol] for PDR/DME and 8.6 (1.7) (8.0-9.0)% [71 (19) (65-77) mmol/mol] for macroalbuminuria. Thyroid autoimmunity was positive in 3 patients with overt hypothyroidism in 2 of them. Worse microvascular outcomes among these cases might be attributed to poor glycemic control, lack of knowledge, and limited financial resources.