Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Because of the rising incidence of type1 diabetes (T1D), it remains a challenge. With time, systemic consequences such as anemia may develop in children with T1D. Anemia in T1D may have a complex, multifactorial background. Aim: we aimed to assess the iron deficiency anemia, correlate it with duration of diabetes mellitus in children with Type 1 DM in a group of Egyptian children. Methods: this case control study included 110 children, fifty-five of them with type 1 diabetes mellitus following up at the outpatient’s pediatric endocrinology clinic, pediatric department, Beni-Suef university hospital and fifty-five healthy control children. All patients underwent complete history taking, full physical examination and investigations including complete blood count, serum ferritin, serum iron, HbA1C, fasting blood sugar and 2-hour postprandial blood sugar. Results: Anemia was significantly more prevalent among type 1 Diabetes than controls (29.1% vs 12.7% respectively). The mean values of Hb, RBC, MCV, MCHC, MCH, serum iron, serum ferritin was significantly lower in diabetic children than controls. A significant difference was found regarding Hb and MCV mean values among children with type 1 diabetes in comparison with duration of diabetes as the lower mean values was among over 6 years diagnosed children. BMI was significantly lower among anaemic-diabetic children with serum ferritin ≤20 than non anaemic children with serum ferritin >20. HBA1c mean values was significantly higher among anaemic diabetic children (whose ferritin ≤20) than those non anaemic diabetic children (whose ferritin >20). There was a moderate negative correlation between HB and HBA1c. Conclusion and recommendations: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that anemia especially iron deficiency anemia is prevalent among children with type 1 diabetes with association with longer disease duration, poor control of diabetes and lower BMI. So, we recommend routine screening of children with type I DM, strict control of diabetes, and nutritional counseling of those children.