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Growth in a Series of Diabetic Children on Identical Treatment with “Free” Diet and Insulin 1944–1960: A Contribution to the Aetiology of Diabetic Dwarfism
Author(s) -
HAMNE BERTIL
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1962.tb08660.x
Subject(s) - medicine , insulin , diabetes mellitus , dwarfism , pediatrics , etiology , endocrinology , nph insulin , regimen , hypoglycemia , biochemistry , chemistry , insulin glargine , gene
Summary An account is given of growth in a series of 195 cases of juvenile diabetes treated on a standard regimen (“free” diet + insulin) and collected during the period 1944–1960. Scrutiny of the series shows that growth was as a rule normal. Undersized children usually had small parents. A few cases of retarded growth may however be explained by excessive feeding with relative insulin deficiency. Two cases showing the classical picture of diabetes dwarfism with hepatomegaly and infantile mentality are described. Both were inadequately controlled, owing to ignorance on the part of the parents. These cases support the view that the condition is caused by relative insulin deficiency. The theory is further borne out by the improvement that took place in one of these children when she was finally brought under adequate control.