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AIMS To assess the frequency and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at disease onset in children newly diagnosed with autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Istanbul in the last decade. Also, to evaluate the potential contribution of the national diabetes awareness programme (NDAP) initiated in 2010. METHODS Four hundred and one consecutive children (mean ± standard deviation, age 8.1 ± 4.1 years) with a diagnosis of autoimmune T1D were evaluated retrospectively with respect to demographic, clinical, and laboratory data in relation to DKA at disease onset. The possible impact of NDAP on the rate of DKA at disease onset in the last 2 years was also evaluated by comparing the data related to the time intervals before and after the onset of the programme. The results were evaluated at 95% confidence interval and significance was granted for p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS The overall frequency of DKA at disease onset was 44.2%, with a significant trend for decline in rate of DKA at disease onset in the last decade (p=0.0001). There were no significant differences in proportions of newly diagnosed T1D patients with severe or moderate DKA over time. Mean body mass index standard deviation score tended to increase in the last decade, but not significantly (p=0.09). When the time intervals before and after the onset of NDAP were evaluated, there was a more than two-fold decrease in rate of DKA (from 49.3% to 23.9%) (p

This retrospective study evaluated clinical characteristics of patients with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) at presentation, during puberty and at final height. The records of 151 children (105 boys, 46 girls) with CDGP were reviewed and the results were evaluated with respect to findings in healthy Turkish schoolchildren. CDGP was twice as frequent in boys as in girls. Height and weight deficit and short sitting height of the children were evident at presentation and continued up to final height. Mean age of onset of puberty was retarded by 2.5 years in girls and by 3 years in boys. The time between onset of puberty and pubertal growth spurt was shorter in both girls and boys than in the controls. Peak growth velocity was compromised in both girls and boys. Forty-one patients (30 boys, 11 girls) reached final height (FH). Mean FH was shorter than both target height and predicted adult height. The Bayley-Pinneau method was found to be a better predictor of FH than either the Tanner-Whitehouse method or target height. FH also showed correlation with the father's height. There was no effect of testosterone treatment on final height. Height deficit at onset of puberty, shorter duration between onset of puberty and pubertal growth spurt, compromised peak growth velocity and short upper segment due to delayed puberty, are findings which may explain the decreased final height of children with CDGP.