Published Paper Details:

Background: Type 1 diabetes is a chronic illness characterized by the body's inability to produce insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas. Although onset frequently occurs in childhood, the disease can also develop in adults. Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem worldwide in all age groups, even in those residing in countries with low latitudes. Recent studies reported a relationship between low vitamin D and the development of type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D supplementation especially in the early stages of life may reduce the risk of development of type 1 diabetes. Aim of study: to see the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in type 1 diabetes and its relation with glycemic control. Patients and methods: It is a cross-sectional study for 6 months between the 1st of October 2022 to 30th of March 2023, where one hundred thirty-two patients with type 1 diabetes who attended The Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes in Baghdad Government-Iraq, their ages between 2-18 years were investigated for fasting blood glucose (FBG), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) vitamin D and serum Calcium (S.Ca), in addition to anthropometric measures which standardized according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. Whether vitamin D deficit, insufficient or normal levels depended on the Endocrine Society's definitions of vitamin D levels. Results: 57.6% of the patients were older than 10 years and 59.8% of the diabetic patients were females. Body Mass Indexes for diabetic patients were within normal limits according to CDC growth charts. This mean HbA1c of the diabetic patients was higher in those older than 10 and in female patients (P-value=0.000 for both). Levels of vitamin D were deficient in 71.1% of the diabetic patients and insufficient in 22%, with no sex or age predominance (P-value=0.907 and 0.981 respectively). Serum calcium was normal in 64.4% of the diabetic patients and 55.3% of them had vitamin D deficiency. Glycemic control was poor at any serum vitamin D levels (normal or abnormal values) with no significant relationship between vitamin D and HbA1c (P-value=0.943). Conclusions: Most type 1 diabetic patients were vitamin D deficient mainly females older than 10 years. Poor glycemic control was seen at any vitamin D levels.