Does the prepubertal duration of diabetes influence the onset of microvascular complications?

This study investigated the relationship between the development of diabetic retinopathy and pubertal status at onset of diabetes in 521 Type 1 diabetic patients diagnosed between 1950 and 1985. Pubertal status was based on age at onset (girls > or = 11 years and boys > or = 12 years). Retinopathy (all forms) developed in 112 patients (21.5%; 65 background and 47 proliferative retinopathy). For subjects diagnosed in either the prepubertal or postpubertal period, a similar proportion survived without developing retinopathy for any given duration of diabetes (chi 2 = 0.3822, p = 0.54). However, if only the postpubertal duration of diabetes is considered, then the proportion of patients surviving without retinopathy was significantly less for those diagnosed in the prepubertal period (chi 2 = 14.2, p = 0.002). This study suggests that the prepubertal duration of diabetes is an important phase and that the years prior to puberty do contribute to the risk of developing microvascular injury.