Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes: Rural vs. Urban Perspectives from a Specialized Center in Bangladesh

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily aff ects children and adolescents, leading to insulin defi ciency and persistent hyperglycemia. The incidence of T1DM has been rising globally, with signifi cant regional variations. While Europe and North America report the highest rates, Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, has seen increasing cases. This study aims to compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of newly diagnosed T1DM patients from rural and urban areas of Bangladesh, focusing on factors such as age at diagnosis, family history, and disease presentation. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pediatric Diabetes Care and Research Center (PDRC) at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January to December 2019. Retrospective data from 212 newly diagnosed children and adolescents (aged 1-18 years) were analyzed. The study included sociodemographic information (age, sex, residence, family history) and clinical data (DKA at diagnosis, height, weight, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c levels). Most participants (62%) were from rural areas, with a higher proportion from low socioeconomic backgrounds than from urban areas.