Academic skills in children with early‐onset type 1 diabetes: the effects of diabetes‐related risk factors

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04248.x
• Publication Date: 2012-03-12T06:41:37Z
• Authors: RIITTA HANNONEN; JORMA KOMULAINEN; RAILI RIIKONEN; TIMO AHONEN; KENNETH EKLUND; ASKO TOLVANEN; PÄIVI KESKINEN; ANJA NUUJA
• Keywords: Diabetic ketoacidosis; Spelling; Ketoacidosis

Aim The study aimed to assess the effects of diabetes‐related risk factors, especially severe hypoglycaemia, on academic skills children with early‐onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Method comprised 63 T1DM (31 females, 32 males; mean age 9y 11mo, SD 4mo) and 92 comparison without (40 52 9mo, 3mo). Children were included if had been diagnosed before 5 years they aged between 9 10 at time study. not their native language was Finnish a neurological disorder that affected cognitive development. Among group, 37 26 experienced hypoglycaemia avoided hypoglycaemia. Severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), glycaemic control used as T1DM‐related factors. Task performance in reading, spelling, mathematics compared among three groups, factors analysed general linear models. Results groups ( p <0.001) =0.001) demonstrated poorer than group showed =0.003). DKA, recent associated skills, but first‐year spelling =0.013). Interpretation An early onset can increase learning problems, independently history or DKA. Poorer after first year is acquisition indicating effect timing metabolic aberrations