Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in Children under 5 Years of Age: Multicentric Study of 22 Cases
Djibril Boiro *
Abass Ndao Hospital Center, Senegal.
Aminata Mbaye
Albert Royer Children's Hospital, Senegal.
Amadou Sow
Abass Ndao Hospital Center, Senegal.
Babacar Niang
Albert Royer Children's Hospital, Senegal.
Aliou Abdoulaye Ndongo
Pikine Hospital Center, Senegal.
Fatou Adama Fall
Abass Ndao Hospital Center, Senegal.
Ndiogou Seck
Saint Louis Regional Hospital, United States.
Idrissa Basse
Diamniadio Children's Hospital, Senegal.
Ndeye Fatou Sow
Dalal Diam Hospital, Senegal.
Modou Gueye
Abass Ndao Hospital Center, Senegal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: The incidence of T1D is increasing worldwide, particularly in young children under 6 years of age. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of type 1 diabetes in children under 5 years of age in our resource-limited country setting.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study over a period from January 2018 to July 2022 in Dakar. All type 1 diabetic children under 5 years of age were included except those with an unusable file or less than 6 months of follow-up.
Results: We collected 22 records of children aged 0 to 5 years, with a prevalence of 7.8% of all children followed in the two centers. The socioeconomic level was considered average for 54% of patients. Ketoacidosis was the main mode of discovery in our patients (86%). The nutritional status was good for 77% of the children followed and 5% were overweight. The average HbA1c was 10.57 ± 0.5%. Analog insulins were the main insulins used by our patients, (64%). The average daily dose of insulin was 1.08 IU /kg. The diet was normal in the majority of patients (90%). No patient had a chronic complication during follow-up. Severe hypoglycemia was noted in 20% of cases. All our patients benefited from daily glycemic monitoring and had a notebook available. The monitoring rate was 3 checks, i.e. one check before each meal. No deaths were reported.
Conclusion: Diabetes in children under 5 years of age is not common. The majority of children are on insulin analogues with a glycemic control far from optimal. A prospective study could allow us to better identify the problems in order to provide appropriate solutions.
Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, children under 5, Senegal