Risk factors in childhood diabetes mellitus.

The quotients total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and free fatty acid/albumin in serum were examined in various groups of diabetic patients and the changes of the quotients induced by various forms of physical activity were then registered. Both total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and free fatty acid/albumin were increased in patients with unsatisfactory control of diabetes. Low albumin levels were only seen in cases with very poor control or in cases afflicted by complications. Increased muscular activity unvariably led to a fall in the value of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol while in children with adequate control but performing little physical exercise the quotient of free fatty acid/albumin was low and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol was increased. In addition to the quotient of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol also the quotient of free fatty acid/albumin is a sensitive indicator of the diabetic condition.