The Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus among Schoolchildren and Adolescent Tripoli Children Hospital, Tripoli, Libya (2009- 2010)

Abstract

Diabetes is well recognized as a major health global problem. It is defined as a common, chronic metabolic syndrome
characterized by hyperglycaemia as a cardinal biochemical feature.
The study aimed to find out prevalence of DM among school children in Tripoli and its relationship to Sociodemographic
characters of the students including FH of DM and health status of students.A descriptive cross-sectional study
conducted among school children in primary and preparatory schools in Tripoli in a period from April 2009 to
October 2010.
From the sample size of 400 students, three students (0.75%) were diagnosed as diabetes mellitus, two males and one
female, their mean age are10.6+2.5yrs, two of them had normal BMI and the other one is obese. Two (66%) of them
had positive FH of DM, the other one (33%) had no data. Two (66%) had high cholesterol level and 3(100%) had
high HDL level. During the study, we found 1(0.25%) female student is pre-diabetic, 10yrs old with positive FH of
DM, and had high cholesterol and HDL levels.Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent medical health problem among school
children especially those who had family history of DM, obese and associated with high cholesterol level.
Development of screening program of DM among school children who had some risk factors including (F/H of DM,
obese child), education of school personnel about diabetes and Similar studies with the same aim need to be repeated
on larger sample of students in different cities in Libya