Effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in type ۱ diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases with high prevalence, mortality and morbidity characterized by prolonged high blood glucose concentrations resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. This study aimed to assess the role of vitamin D supplementation in glycemic control in uncontrolled type ۱ diabetes with vitamin D deficiency. It is a prospective study between ۱st of October ۲۰۲۲ to ۳۱st of July ۲۰۲۳, where ninety patients (male: female ratio ۱:۱) with uncontrolled type ۱ diabetes and vitamin D deficiency attended The Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes in Baghdad Government-Iraq, their ages between ۵-۱۸ years were followed for ۱۰months to assess their Hemoglobin A۱c (Hba۱c) and serum calcium after correction of vitamin D level with therapeutic doses of vitamin D. The findings of the study had shown that ۴۱.۱% of the patients had vitamin D insufficiency and ۵۸.۹% with deficiency regardless sex and age. All the obese children and ۶۶.۴% of the overweight had vitamin D deficiency with significant correlation with BMI (P<۰.۰۰۱). The severity of vitamin D was also related to duration of disease diagnoses (P<۰.۰۰۱). Good glycemic control occurs in patients with vitamin D levels>۵۰ng/ml (P<۰.۰۱). In ۱۴.۵% of the patients after ۶ months, their vitamin D levels again became deficient, so re-check was needed after ۶ months from the end of the loading therapy. Vitamin D deficiency among the patients of diabetes mellitus type ۱ was high and was closely related to glycemic control. The level of vitamin D was negatively related to the body weight and the duration of the disease. Additionally, the findings of the study have demonstrated therapeutic dose of vitamin D has the potential to manage glucose levels.

Keywords:

Diabetes , Electrolyte Disturbance , Glycemic control , Hyperglycemia , Unexpected Weight Loss , Vitamin D