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№ 38General Pediatrics18 min read

Childhood type I. (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus

1. Big picture

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is the most common endocrine disease of childhood and the most important pediatric diabetes topic for the exam. It is caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency.

The child cannot move glucose into insulin-dependent tissues, so the body behaves as if it is starving despite hyperglycemia.

Core clinical pattern:

Polyuria + polydipsia + weight loss ± vomiting/abdominal pain/Kussmaul breathing
→ type 1 diabetes mellitus ± diabetic ketoacidosis

The examiner wants you to know:

  1. How to recognize new-onset diabetes.
  2. How to diagnose it quickly.
  3. Why diabetic ketoac

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