Complications and prognosis of children with IDDM.

There was a marked reduction in the prevalence of complications in, and mortality status of, Japanese children with IDDM in the past 20 years. It is apparent that the improvement in medical treatment as well as social circumstance surrounding childhood diabetes in recent years contributed greatly to this change. However, when one compares Japanese data with those for Europe or the U.S., the present status is not yet satisfactory. In order to prevent the early development of diabetic complications followed by premature death associated with IDDM, an evenly distributed high-level medical system throughout Japan is required in addition to tight control of diabetes and patient education. Moreover, a population-based ongoing IDDM registry should be established from which risk factors for the progression of complications could be identified.