Of the participants, 86% had at least one, 45% at least two and 15% at least three CVD risk factors. Few patients were treated with statins and anti-hypertensive drugs.

Aims/hypothesis We evaluated how well the diet of Norwegian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes fulfils the Nordic and European dietary recommendations, focusing on parameters affecting prevention of atherosclerosis. We also compared the diet of this patient group with that of healthy same-age control subjects. Materials and methods A total of 177 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (9-10-year-olds, 12-13-year-olds) and 1,809 healthy same-age control subjects recorded their food intake for 4 days in precoded food diaries.Results In children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes the percentage of energy (E%) from fat (33-35 E%) and saturated fat (14-15 E%) was higher than recommended for that group. Furthermore their intake of fibre was lower (16-19 g/day) than current recommendations. There were no differences in energy intake between diabetic subjects and healthy control subjects. Percentage of energy from fat (mean difference: 3.4 E%, p<0.001) and saturated fat (mean difference: 1.0 E%, p<0.001) was significantly higher among diabetic subjects than control subjects. Intake of fruits and vegetables was low (210 g/day) compared with recommendations, both in the diabetic and control subjects. Conclusions/interpretation Diabetic children and adolescents had a high intake of energy from saturated fat and low intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables, which could increase the risk of development of atherosclerosis. This study supports the idea that nutritional guidance in the treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes should be more focused, especially with regard to intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables and to quality and quantity of fat intake.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate early stages of atherosclerosis and predisposing factors in type 1 diabetic children and adolescents compared with age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSAll children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, aged 8–18 years in Health Region South-East in Norway were invited to participate in the study (n = 800). A total of 40% (n = 314) agreed to participate and were compared with 118 age-matched healthy control subjects. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and elasticity were measured using standardized methods.RESULTSMean age of the diabetic patients was 13.7 years, mean diabetes duration was 5.5 years, and mean A1C was 8.4%; 97% were using intensive insulin treatment, and 60% were using insulin pumps. Diabetic patients had more frequently elevated cIMT than healthy control subjects: 19.5% were above the 90th centile of healthy control subjects, and 13.1% were above the 95th centile (P < 0.001). Mean cIMT was higher in diabetic boys than in healthy control subjects (0.46 ± 0.06 vs. 0.44 ± 0.05 mm, P = 0.04) but not significantly so in girls. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding carotid distensibility, compliance, or wall stress. None of the subjects had atherosclerotic plaque formation. Although within the normal range, the mean values of systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B were significantly higher in the diabetic patients than in the healthy control subjects.CONCLUSIONSDespite short disease duration, intensive insulin treatment, fair glycemic control, and no signs of microvascular complications, children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes had slightly increased cIMT compared with healthy control subjects, and the differences were more prominent in boys.