[Level of calcitonin in blood serum of children with insulin dependent diabetes].

Calcitonin concentration (CT) was measured in 52 children with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). All the patients studied were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of children with freshly diagnosed diabetes remaining in the condition of ketonemic acidosis. The second group was composed of children with the well controlled diabetes during the first two years od duration of the disease. The third group included the patients with poorly controlled diabetes of the duration longer than ten years having the accompanying vascular complications. The control values were determined in children without metabolic disturbances of either diabetic or other origin. CT concentration was significantly elevated both in the patients of the first group and those of the third group. In the second group the concentration of this hormone was close to normal. It is known that calcitonin participates in the homeostasis of calcium and is an important regulator of insulin secretion. The results obtained suggest that calcitonin may play a role both in the pathogenesis of diabetes and in developing of diabetic osteopenia.