Diabetes mellitus (pediatrie)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a set of symptoms that includes multiple nosological units.

Characteristic symptoms include: hyperglycemia, glycosuria, absolute or relative lack of insulin, risk of late complications due to chronic hyperglycemia.


 * Diagnostic criteria of DM
 * typical symptoms of diabetes (polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss) and at the same time venous glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l at any time during the day;
 * or
 * fasting blood glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l;
 * or
 * blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l at the 120th minute oGTT (oral glucose tolerance test).

The most serious acute complication of diabetes is diabetic ketoacidosis - as a result of an absolute or relative lack of insulin, fatty acids are used as a substitute source of energy (ketogenesis):
 * pH < 7.30 or HCO3– < 15 mmol/l with hyperglycemia > 12 mmol/l and ketonemia/ketonuria.

Types of diabetes in children and adolescents
Milder forms of the disorder:
 * impaired glucose tolerance: blood glucose 7.8 – 11.0 mmol/l at the 120th minute oGTT;
 * increased fasting blood glucose': fasting blood glucose 5.6 – 6.9 mmol/l.

Polygenically determined types of diabetes:
 * diabetes mellitus type 1 – autoimmune destruction of β-cells;
 * the most severe form of diabetes;
 * vitally dependent on insulin treatment (insulin-dependent);
 * the predominant type of DM in children, adolescents and young adults.
 * diabetes mellitus type 2
 * typical disease of adults and elderly;
 * associated with excess weight and rising insulin resistance (insulin-independent), which the own insulin secretion cannot overcome.

Monogenically determined types of diabetes:
 * MODY (maturity-onset diabetes of the young)
 * neonatal diabetes
 * diabetic syndromes
 * diabetes mellitus associated with cystic fibrosis

Secondary diabetes: It is caused by the overproduction of certain hormones or pharmaceuticals; rare in children.

Related Articles

 * Diabetes mellitus • Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy • Gestational diabetes mellitus • Newborn of a diabetic mother • Other specific types of diabetes mellitus
 * Diabetes mellitus type 1 (endocrinology) • Diabetes mellitus type 1 (biochemistry)
 * Type 2 diabetes mellitus (endocrinology) • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (biochemistry) • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (pediatrics)
 * Selected biochemical tests in patients with diabetes mellitus
 * Complications of diabetes mellitus • Diabetic ketoacidosis
 * Diabetes and tumors • Transplantation in diabetology
 * Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
 * Diabetic ketoacidosis/case report
 * Diabetic education • Diet for type 1 DM • Diet for type 2 DM • Diabetic foods • Special diabetic diets