Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in children: Familial and clinical patterns in Riyadh

Type I diabetes mellitus is probably common in Saudi Arabia, but only a small amount of information on the disease is available and most cases reported so far have been type II diabetes mellitus. Type I diabetes was diagnosed in 110 children who were followed at Suleimania Children's Hospital over a five-year period (1985-1989). Saudis represented 74.5% (82/110) of the patients, and 53.6% (59/110) were female. Consanguinity existed in 42.7% (47/110) of the parents. A first-degree family history was positive for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in 28.1% (31/110). Mean age at onset was 5.87 years, which is low compared with other ages cited in the literature. Thirty-three patients (30%) were below three years of age at onset. The most common clinical sign was diabetic ketoacidosis, which was seen in 67.2% (74/110). Duration of symptoms before diagnosis ranged from two days to more than two months, with a mean of 18.2 days. Partial remission was seen in 30.9% (34/110). This low percentage is probably due to the young age distribution at onset and perhaps to a different pattern of severity of the disease in our community. Further studies, including opening a local registry, are needed for confirming the incidence and characteristics of the disease in Saudi Arabia.