Growth and Pubertal Status in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Comparison with Non-Diabetic Controls

Background/Objectives: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has historically been associated with impaired linear growth and delayed pubertal development due to chronic insulin deficiency. Advances in intensive insulin therapy and glucose monitoring may have substantially reduced these effects. This study evaluated growth and pubertal development in children with T1DM treated with multiple daily injections (MDIs) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) compared with non-diabetic controls and investigated whether metabolic control was associated with anthropometric outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective observational study included 177 children aged 3–18 years: 102 with T1DM (60 treated with MDI and 42 with CSII) and 75 non-diabetic hospital-based controls. Height SDS, BMI SDS, Tanner stage, biochemical parameters, and diabetes-related variables were analyzed. Comparisons, correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between metabolic control and anthropometric parameters.