Diabetes Mellitus in Children Suffering from β-Thalassaemia

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a frequent complication in patients with β-thalassaemia major. It is believed to be a consequence of the damage inflicted by iron overload to the pancreatic β-cell. Liver disorders and genetic influences seem to be additional predisposing factors to diabetes mellitus in patients with β-thalassaemia. Ethnic variations are frequently reported on prevalence and complications of diabetes mellitus in the β-thalassaemia patients. We investigated 50 Saudi children (< 15 years) with β-thalassaemia major and 50 β-thalassaemia minor, and age- and sex-matched controls for the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and its relation to hitherto claimed predisposing factors