Young Patients With Diabetes Have Decreased Cerebrovascular Reactivity Under Hypercapneic Conditions

ObjectiveAdult diabetic patients have an abnormal cerebrovascular response to hypercapnia, but there are few studies focused on diabetes mellitus type 1 and cerebral blood flow in pediatric or adolescent patients. We hypothesize that young patients with diabetes exhibit a different response to hypercapnia than normal control counterparts.MethodsUsing transcranial Doppler techniques, we compared young diabetic patients with healthy controls by measuring cerebral blood velocity before and during carbon dioxide challenge.ResultsSubjects with diabetes had decreased cerebral blood velocity reactivity when compared with the control group (P = 0.005).ConclusionOur results suggest cerebrovascular dysfunction in diabetic patients beginning at an early age. The possibility of long-term implications for cerebrovascular disease demonstrates the need for further studies in the pediatric and adolescent diabetic population to better understand this prevalent condition.