Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

A rising number of people around the world, especially in Middle Eastern nations, are living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), a chronic autoimmune disease. Data on the care and results of children type 1 diabetes in Iraq is sparse, despite the increasing burden. The purpose of this research was to examine the clinical features, diagnostic procedures, treatment plans, and results of type 1 diabetic children who were seen at Baghdad's Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital.
In a cross-sectional study that took place between January 2023 and January 2025, 250 children with type 1 diabetes, ranging in age from 1 to 18 years, were included. We gathered information on demographics, clinical features, diagnostic methods, insulin dosages, glycemic control (HbA1c), psychological and social aspects, and acute consequences. Poor glycemic control was defined as hemoglobin A1C levels above 9%. Independent predictors of this condition were identified using multivariate logistic regression. 
Males made up 52% of the sample, and the average age of the participants was 10.5 ± 3.2 years. There were 7.5 cases per 100,000 youngsters per year. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was present in 39.2% of cases at diagnosis, and classic T1DM symptoms were observed in 75% of cases. Cholesterol control at an ideal level (HbA1c < 7%) was only attained by 40%. Insulin pump therapy was utilized by just 15% of patients, whereas 85% of patients took multiple daily injections. A total of 35.2% of patients experienced DKA per year, while 24.8% experienced severe hypoglycemia. Only 8% of patients were able to access continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Adolescence (aOR=3.84), infrequent glucose monitoring (aOR=3.21), inadequate diabetes education (aOR=2.87), parents with low levels of education (aOR=2.54), and disruption within the family (aOR=2.42) were all independent predictors of poor control. 
Due in large part to a lack of diabetes technology and organized teaching initiatives, these results show that Iraqi children with type 1 diabetes continue to have inadequate glucose control and significant complication rates. If Iraq wants to see better results for children with diabetes, they need to do three things: increase diabetes education, make glucose monitoring equipment more widely available, and strengthen support networks that are oriented around families.