Children With Type 1 Diabetes Are Too Often Misdiagnosed, Major Review

A sweeping scoping review in BMC Pediatrics reports that type 1 diabetes in children is frequently missed or diagnosed late, even at first contact. The international team—led by researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Naples Federico II, and Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg—screened 1,936 records and included 27 studies. Results varied widely, but depending on the study, about 14% to nearly 99% of children with new-onset type 1 diabetes experienced delayed diagnosis. In cases involving diabetic ketoacidosis, the initial healthcare visit failed to detect the disease in up to 72% of children. The authors highlight heterogeneity across populations, definitions of delay, and care settings.