Diabetic Vascular Changes in Children

The microvascular complications of diabetes are demonstrated in the eye at a very early stage with the use of retinal fluorescein angiography. One hundred and fifty-four children who have had diabetes mellitus for durations varying from one month to 18 years had their retinal vasculature evaluated with fluorescein angiography. Seventy-five per cent of the children examined had vascular abnormalities, including 20 children who had diabetes for one year or less. Twenty-five per cent of the children showed no vascular abnormalities. This included one child who had diabetes for 12 years. The severity of the vascular abnormalities increased with the duration of diabetes. Vascular abnormalities did not appear related to diabetic management or control. The possibility of two types of diabetics, one with the other without associated vascular abnormalities, is suggested.