Teenage girls with type 1 diabetes have poorer metabolic control than boys and face more complications in early adulthood

AimsTo compare metabolic control between males and females with type 1 diabetes during adolescence and as young adults, and relate it to microvascular complications.MethodsData concerning 4000 adolescents with type 1 diabetes registered in the Swedish paediatric diabetes quality registry, and above the age of 18 years in the Swedish National Diabetes Registry was used.ResultsWhen dividing HbA1c values in three groups; < 7.4% (57 mmol/mol), 7.4–9.3% (57–78 mmol/mol) and > 9.3% (78 mmol/mol), there was a higher proportion of females in the highest group during adolescence. In the group with the highest HbA1c values during adolescence and as adults, 51.7% were females, expected value 46.2%; in the group with low HbA1c values in both registries, 34.2% were females, p < 0.001. As adults, more females had retinopathy, p < 0.05. Females had higher mean HbA1c values at diagnosis, 11.2 vs. 10.9% (99 vs. 96 mmol/mol), p < 0.03, during adolescence, 8.5 vs. 8.2% (69 vs. 66 mmol/mol) p < 0.01, but not as young adults.ConclusionsWorse glycaemic control was found in adolescent females, and they had a higher frequency of microvascular complications. Improved paediatric diabetes care is of great importance for increasing the likelihood of lower mortality and morbidity later in life.