A Prospective Study of Children Who were Admitted for Diabetes Mellitus at a Jamaican Hospital
Published: June 1, 2012 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2012/.2223
Dalip Ragoobirsingh,
Donovan Anthony McGrowder
1. Biochemistry Section, Departments of Basic Medical
Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of
the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica.
2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences,The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus,
Kingston, Jamaica.
Correspondence
Prof. Dalip Ragoobirsingh Biochemistry Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica W.I. Tel: 876-927-2290; Fax: 876-977-3823. Mobile: 1-876-509-0523. E-mail: dalip.ragoobirsingh@uwimona.edu.jm
Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the predominant form of youth onset diabetes, and a majority of hospital admissions of this group of patients is usually due to a poor control of diabetes.
Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children who were admitted to the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Jamaica over a ten year period.
Methods and Materials: A medical records study was conducted over this ten year period.
Results: These showed that there were 77,679 admissions, of which 85 were for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Fifty (50) percent of the latter was between 8-12 years old. Female diabetic patients were twice as that of the males.
Conclusion: It appears that one in every thousand children who were admitted to this institution were admitted for type 1 diabetes mellitus, and that girls between the ages of 8-12 years were more at risk.
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