Calendar Influences Timing of Pediatric Diabetes Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is more common in the winter. Some seasonal presentation patterns observed in school-age children with type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus may reflect the parental response during holidays and weekends and availability of healthcare services.

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 presented with insulin dependent diabetes.

In those 4 years or older, presentations peaked with increases ranging from 19.5% to 25.7% between mid December and mid January. The lowest rate was seen in July, the main Scottish holiday month. Overall, presentation was "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," stated, Dr. Helms.

"This pattern," Dr. 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."

Arch Dis Child 2004;89:970-973.