Introduction: DKA is still the potentially life-threatening complication of DMT1 especially in children and in newly diagnosed subjects. The aim of the study was the assessment of the DKA frequency and the analysis of chosen risk factors in children with the new onset of DMT1.
Material and methods: The group of 186 children with the onset of DM hospitalised in the years 2004-2005 was followed up. Biochemical parameters: pH, glycaemia and HbA1c were analysed. Moreover additional features: clinical symptoms, the duration of symptoms and the numbers of visits preceding right diagnosis were collected.
Results: 62 children (33%) presented DKA at the onset of DM. The mean age of these children (8.3+/-4.9 years) was significantly lower than mean age of the whole group (9.6+/-4.9 years, p<0,05). The highest number of DKA episodes was observed in children below 4 years (p<0,001). Apart from the classical symptoms, nocturnal enuresis was the most frequent symptom reported at the onset. The correlations between duration of symptoms and pH as well as delaying of diagnosis and both severity of DKA and age of children have not been observed. The occurrence of DKA was constant in spite of seasonality of DM incidence.
Conclusions: At the time of diabetes initial diagnosis DKA episodes have been reported in 1/3 of cases. Among analysed risk factors only the young age has been evidenced as significant in newly diagnosed children.