SERUM LIPIDS IN TREATED DIABETIC CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

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Abstract
Fasting lipid concentrations were measured in 50 treated juvenile diabetics, their siblings and parents to determine which types of hyperlipoproteinemia co-exist with juvenile diabetes and whether the abnormalities relate to diabetic control, or represent familial disorders. Lipid concentrations among the parents did not differ from adult controls. Triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in those diabetic children with fasting blood glucose concentrations > 10 mmol/l than those with concentrations < 10 mmol/l. The latter group had similar triglyceride levels to non-diabetic siblings. Cholesterol concentrations were not related to fasting blood glucose and were similar in diabetic and sibling controls. Hyperlipoproteinemia (types IIa, IIb and IV) was present in 10 of the diabetic patients. Six of the 9 diabetic patients with raised cholesterol had at least 1 parent with cholesterol in the highest quintile for the control population, whereas only 6 of the 41 with lower levels had parents in this category. A similar trend for cholesterol was apparent among the non-diabetic siblings. No association was apparent between the triglyceride levels of diabetics (or their siblings) and parents. Although hyperlipidemia associated with juvenile diabetes appears to be largely due to inadequate control, raised cholesterol concentrations frequently occur.
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