What is the name of the disease/syndrome that is associated with type 1 diabetes in which the child is not growing properly? Thankfully, my daughter did not need further testing but a friend of ours has a daughter who does.

There are several possibilities. I first thought of Turner’s syndrome. This is associated with autoimmune diseases and is a genetic condition in which a girl inherits only one X chromosome. I must say it is uncommon and much less common than diabetes. It is extremely unlikely that a child who develops diabetes will have Turner’s syndrome.

Diabetes can also be associated with hypothyroidism which can affect growth, but occurs in 2 to 5% of children with diabetes.

There also is a much rarer condition in which there is excessive glycogen stored in the liver, resulting in growth failure and an enlarged liver. It is called Mauriac’s Syndrome. It is very unusual to see this syndrome, and the cause of it is unknown.

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