Calendar may influence diagnosis of kids' diabetes

Some seasonal patterns in when a diagnosis of type I insulin- dependent diabetes is made in school-age children may reflect the parents' response during holidays and weekends, as well as the availability of healthcare services, according to Scottish researchers.

In the October issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood, Dr. Peter J. Helms of the University of Aberdeen and colleagues note that diabetes diagnoses in Scotland are generally more common in winter. However, this pattern is not seen among children younger than 4 years old or in some other countries.

To investigate further, the researchers examined data on 4517 Scottish children 14 years or younger who had been found to have insulin-dependent diabetes.

In those 4 years or older, diagnostic exams peaked between mid-December and mid-January. The lowest rate was seen in July, the main Scottish holiday month.

Overall, diagnosis rates "strongly influenced" by weekends and holidays.

"The fact that childhood presentations for insulin dependent diabetes peak on Mondays and Fridays and are at their lowest on Sundays would be consistent with parents either trying to get their children seen before the weekend or, if the child became ill over the weekend, waiting until Monday before seeking medical help," Helms told Reuters Health.

"This pattern," Helms concluded, "is likely to be followed for many other subacute conditions and although completely understandable, might not be in the child's best interests."

SOURCE: Archives of Disease in Childhood, October 2004.