Speakers - 2026

Title: Features of neurological complications in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: This abstract describes the features of neurological complications in children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years with diabetes mellitus. The processes leading to the development of neurological complications are detected already at the early stages of the disease, which in turn reduces quality of life. Currently, in type 1 diabetes mellitus, the risk of developing neurological disorders has increased by 2–6 times.

Aim of the study: To determine neurological complications in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus depending on age groups.

Materials and methods: A total of 102 patients aged 7 to 18 years were examined, all of whom were in stages of compensation, subcompensation, and decompensation of carbohydrate metabolism. The duration of the disease ranged from 1 to 16 years. The examined patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of children aged 7–11 years (n = 42), and Group 2 included children aged 12–18 years (n = 60).

During the analysis of medical history data, the most common complication in the examined groups was diabetic neuropathy, with an overall frequency of 55 cases (53.9%). Initial manifestations of non-proliferative retinopathy, detected during ophthalmologic examination, were most frequently observed in children in the stage of subcompensation — 30 cases (42.9%). Diabetic nephropathy significantly prevailed in the group of patients with decompensated diabetes — 12 cases (42.9%). In 41.2% of children (42 out of 102), areas of hypertrophic-type lipodystrophy were detected on the abdomen, thighs, and shoulders, which was associated with improper insulin injection technique. In 15.6% of patients (16 out of 102), the “dawn phenomenon” — an increase in glycemia in the morning hours — was identified. This phenomenon was more frequently observed in children at the stage of disease decompensation — 6 cases (21.4%). In addition, the “dawn phenomenon” predominated in children of pubertal age. These results emphasize the importance of proper insulin injection technique in preventing lipodystrophic skin changes. It is also noteworthy that the “dawn phenomenon” occurs more often in the stage of diabetes decompensation and in adolescents. According to the literature, this is due to increased activity of counter-regulatory hormones in children during puberty.

Conclusions: Thus, when comparing the indicators of diabetic retinopathy, polyneuropathy, cheiroarthropathy, as well as hypertrophic lipodystrophy and the “dawn phenomenon,” depending on the stage of the disease, no significant differences were identified (statistical method used: Pearson’s chi-square test).