All issues > Volume 43(8); 2000

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000;43(8):1106-1110. Published online August 15, 2000.

Factors Influencing the Onset of Honeymoon Period in Children with Type I Diabetes Mellitus

Jin Soon JS Hwang¹, Sei Won SW Yang¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National Univers ity, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Type I diabetes mellitus(DM) is an autoimmune disease which decreases insulin secretion of pancreatic β-cell. The honeymoon period in type I DM is known to be related to the partial recovery of C-peptide and preservation of pancreatic β-cell function. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing the onset of honeymoon period in children with type I DM.
Methods
: The study group was composed of 50 patients with type I DM. The honeymoon period was defined as a period requiring less than 0.5U/kg/day to maintain near-normal blood glucose control without urine glucose for consecutive days. The factors for three study were age at diagnosis, sex, initial 24-hr urine C-peptide, initial HbA1C, diabetic ketoacidosis and maximum insulin dose for near-normal blood glucose control before honeymoon.
Results
: The group with honeymoon period received significantly smaller doses of insulin near- normal blood glucose control, compared to the group without honeymoon period, before honeymoon (P<0.01). Other factors had no significant connection with the development of honeymoon period.
Conclusion
: The development of honeymoon period in type I DM had a significant relationship with maximum insulin dose before the onset of honeymoon period for near-normal blood glucose control. This needs remains to be further study.

Keywords :Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Honeymoon period, Insulin