Body Composition in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes at the Pediatrics Department of the Abass Ndao Hospital Center about 101 Patients

Background: Diabetes and its management have been associated with alterations in body composition parameters in various groups of children worldwide. Our objective is to evaluate fat mass in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods and Settings: This was a descriptive and analytical study, running from February 1, 2023 to May 31, 2023, including children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, on insulin therapy and followed in the pediatric department during the study period.

Results: 101 patients were involved in the study. The average age of discovery of diabetes is 11 years. Cardinal syndrome was the main mode of discovery (60.4%). The mean HbA1c level was 11 ±2.7%. The mean BMI was -0.58 ±1.27 SD with a minimum of -4.7SD and a maximum of 3SD. Eight (8) patients were overweight, i.e. 7.9%, and three (3) were at the obese stage, i.e. 3%, including one (1) who had severe obesity. The WC/H was elevated in eight (8) patients or 7.9%. The mean GM was 23.9 ±7.9% with extremes of 9.5% and 47.8%. High FM (%) were found in 28.7% (n=29). All of the latter had a high WC/H, therefore reflecting the abdominal distribution of this excess fat. Among the patients with a normal BMI, twenty (20) patients or 36.4% had a high FM with a significant difference. Elsewhere, FM (%) was positively correlated with WC/H as well as screen time. Poor diabetes control with HbA1c >7.5% was associated with female sex, high FM, abnormal BMI and inappropriate screen time but this link was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The increase in fat mass constitutes a cardiovascular risk factor in our diabetic subjects, thus potentially worsening the long-term prognosis. Assessment of nutritional status by BMI alone is not sufficient to determine body composition. Promoting body composition assessment by making bioelectrical impedance available.