Kids who have experienced diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may have persistent memory problems. Researchers who gave two memory tests to a group of kids with type 1 diabetes found that the 33 children who had previously had DKA—even if the event happened only at diagnosis—scored worse than the 29 kids who had never experienced the condition. The memory problems were long-lasting, too: Memory was worst in children whose DKA was furthest in the past. Boys and those diagnosed with diabetes at a young age were more likely to perform poorly on memory tests. According to the researchers, the study underscores the importance of preventing DKA in children—in part by diagnosing diabetes before DKA develops.
Source: Journal of Pediatrics, published online Oct. 15, 2009