Severe growth retardation during carbohydrate restriction in type 1 diabetes mellitus: A case report.

ABSTRACT

Carbohydrate restriction is not typically recommended for children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) because of concerns regarding growth retardation, ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, and dyslipidemia. There is no consensus regarding the effects of carbohydrate restriction on the growth of children with T1DM. However, some previously reported cases of T1DM exhibited growth retardation during carbohydrate restriction, whereas others showed no obvious impairment. A female child with T1DM exhibited severe height growth velocity impairment during carbohydrate restriction in early childhood. Her height standard deviation score (SDS) was 1.12 at the initial T1DM diagnosis (2 yr and 11 mo of age) and -1.33 at 4 yr and 8 mo of age. Her height velocity was only 1.7 cm/yr (SDS -7.02). Discontinuing carbohydrate restriction substantially improved her height growth velocity. Implementing a carbohydrate-restricted diet in children with T1DM can negatively affect height growth velocity.