Glycosuria and diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents in south India.

In Madras city (India) 10,513 school students between 3 and 20 yr of age were investigated for glycosuria and its causes. While no previously known cases of diabetes mellitus of any type were encountered, four students (0.038%) in the survey population were found to have glycosuria. One (0.009%) had renal glycosuria, two (0.019%) were possibly NIDDY (MODY) and one (0.009%) had transient glycosuria while receiving anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. It is therefore concluded that neither diabetes mellitus nor glycosuria of non-diabetic causes is a crucial health problem in Indian children and adolescents. While the reasons for this are not known, further research in this field could be of global interest.