Female sex as a risk factor for glycemic control and complications in Iranian patients with type one diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on glycemic control, diabetes complications and associated abnormalities in patients with type one diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study in 309 patients (156 females and 153 males within the age range of 3-16 years) with type one diabetes mellitus referred to endocrinology clinic in Children's Medical Center in Tehran from March 2005 to March 2007 gender differences in diabetes control were analyzed.


RESULTS
Mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), was significantly higher in females (9.25 vs. 8.01). Insulin dose per kilogram of body weight was significantly more in girls (0.91±0.31 vs. 0.74±0.37, P<0.001) self monitoring of blood glucose was performed significantly more in boys. Frequency of Diabetic ketoacidosis, height growth problems and dyslipidemia were significantly higher in girls. 1.20±0.86 vs. 0.93±0.55, P=0.004), (-0.05±1.20 vs. -0.41±1.17, P=0.015), (134.60±44.43 vs. 110.56±20.72, P=<0.001) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Female sex is a risk factor in glycemic control and complications of diabetes type I and females should be managed more seriously regarding self monitoring of blood glucose, nutritional and psychological factors and puberty issues.
Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.
Aria
A
Setoodeh
Fereydoun
F
Mostafavi
Ali
A
Rabbani
Tina
T
Hedayat