Puberty in boys with type 1 diabetes mellitus: What has changed?

Vasiliki-Rengina Tsinopoulou; Athina Stamati; Georgia Sotiriou; Eleni Ι Sakellari; Meropi Dimitriadou; Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou; Athanasios Christoforidis

doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110837

Puberty in boys with type 1 diabetes mellitus: What has changed?

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2023 Sep:203:110837. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110837. Epub 2023 Jul 20.

Authors

Vasiliki-Rengina Tsinopoulou¹, Athina Stamati², Georgia Sotiriou³, Eleni Ι Sakellari¹, Meropi Dimitriadou³, Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou¹, Athanasios Christoforidis⁴

Affiliations

¹ 2nd Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA University General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Postgraduate Program "Research Methodology in Medicine and in Health Sciences", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ 1st Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ 1st Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: christoforidis@doctors.org.uk.

PMID: 37478976
DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110837

Abstract

Aims: To study the age of pubertal onset and secular trend in boys with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) followed in two centers in North Greece.

Methods: Boys with T1DM visited the Outpatient Clinics of the 1st and 2nd Department of Paediatrics of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from March until June 2022 were enrolled. Recent anthropometric data were recorded during the follow-up visit whereas previous anthropometric data and demographic data were collected from medical files. A volume of testis > 3 ml was indicative for the onset of puberty.

Results: A total of 46 boys with T1DM with documented pubertal onset after the diagnosis of T1DM were included in the study. Precocious puberty (<9 years old) was recorded in 5 boys (10.2 %), early puberty (<10 years but >9 years) in 10 (20.4 %) and 34 (69.4 %) entered puberty normally. The duration of T1DM was inversely correlated to the likelihood of earlier puberty (P < 0.001). However, no notable year predominance was observed suggesting no COVID-19 effect.

Conclusion: A considerable number of Greek boys with T1DM appear to develop precocious and early puberty, raising thoughts regarding diabetes management and other possible cofactors.

Keywords: Boys; Children; Growth; Puberty; Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

MeSH terms

Anthropometry
Child
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Puberty
Puberty, Precocious* / diagnosis
Puberty, Precocious* / epidemiology
Testis