The profile of diabetic children in Benghazi, Libya 2013

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is a public health challenge and its prevalence appears to be increasing worldwide. We aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of diabetes mellitus in children, and to describe its effect of on health. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Benghazi pediatric diabetic clinics by interviews questionnaires to the parents of the patients based on published international and national guidelines. Results: Female to male ratio was 1:1.2. History of parental consanguinity was 32.7%. Positive family history of diabetes was 48%. Glycosylated hemoglobin and random blood glucose clinic values indicated suboptimal control. No psychological support in the clinics, but nutritional education was present. Delayed growth or pubertal development reported in 38% of the children. Conclusions: Patients with T1DM do attend on fairly regular follow-up to the clinics, families share the children in healthy diet but health education does not seem adequate and formal psychological support is non-existing whereas it should have been an integral part of standard management. Metabolic control in this convenience sample was poor. There is an amble room for improvement to bring practices to the internationally and nationally accepted standards.

Key-words:

Diabetes - Type 1 diabetes - Children - Epidemiology

Publication History

Received: 25 January 2014

Accepted: 14 August 2015

Article published online:
07 July 2022