Diabetic Nephropathy in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common microvascular consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM), which affects 25- 40% of individuals with type 1 DM. Aim: To determine the prevalence and the risk factors of diabetic nephropathy in adolescents with type 1 DM. Patients and Method: It was a cross-sectional study conducted at Al-Imam Al-Hasan Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes from September 2023 to March 2024 and involved 196 adolescents aged 12-18 years with type 1 DM for at least two years. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical information were obtained during routine visits. Microalbuminuria was used to screen for diabetic nephropathy. Results: Microalbuminuria was found in 61 patients (31.1%), while none of the patients had macroalbuminuria. About 40.9% of patients with nephropathy had duration of DM ≤ 5 years, and 72% of them had ≥ 4 attacks of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The mean glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) for patients with nephropathy was 12.43 ± 1.71%. Conclusion: Adolescents with type 1 DM have a high risk of developing diabetic nephropathy. Poor glycemic control, recurrent hospital admission for diabetic ketoacidosis, and hypertension are significant risk factors; therefore, early screening for microalbuminuria and strict diabetic control are critical to avoid this adverse outcome.

Keywords: Adolescents, Microalbuminuria, Nephropathy, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.