Abstract

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to measure forearm blood flow (FBF) to detect any possible changes that might indicate vascular disorders in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—FBF was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), venous occlusion at rest, and after handgrip exercise. A total of 40 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and 40 healthy children and adolescents (6–18 years) were matched for age and sex for comparison.

RESULTS—In the diabetic group (age 12.79 ± 2.9 years, duration of diabetes 51.5 ± 36 months), FBF at rest was significantly lower (1.39 ± 0.76 ml · 100 g muscle^–1 · min^–1) than in control subjects (age 12.66 ± 2.9 years, FBF at rest 1.90 ± 1.19 ml · 100 g muscle^–1 · min^–1). After exercise, FBF increased significantly less in the diabetic group (0.70 ± 0.82 ml · 100 g muscle^–1 · min^–1) compared with the control subjects (1.15 ± 1.05 ml · 100 g muscle^–1 · min^–1). FBF at rest decreased with increasing age in both groups. The change in FBF after exercise was independent of age in the diabetic group and increased with increasing age in control subjects. FBF is reduced with impaired hyperemic response after exercise in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS—These data suggest that vascular disorders in childhood are detectable noninvasively by NIRS.