<b>Objective.
</b>This
study assessed whether a single diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) episode is associated
with cognitive declines in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, and
whether the same is true in children who had been previously diagnosed after
accounting for variations in glycemic control and other relevant factors.<b> Design. </b>We prospectively
enrolled 758 children, 6- to 18-years-old, who presented with DKA in a
randomized multi-site clinical trial evaluating intravenous fluid protocols for
DKA treatment. DKA was moderate/severe in 430 children and mild in 328
children. 392 children with DKA had new onset of type 1 diabetes, and the rest were
previously diagnosed. Neurocognitive assessment occurred 2-6 months after the
DKA episode. A comparison group of 376 children with type 1 diabetes, but no
DKA exposure, was also enrolled. <b>Results. </b>Among all patients,
moderate/severe DKA was associated with lower IQ (β=-.12, p<0.001),
item-color recall (β=-0.08, p=0.010), and forward digit span (β=-0.06,
p=0.04). Among newly diagnosed patients,
moderate/severe DKA was associated with lower item-color recall (β=-0.08,
p=0.04). Among previously diagnosed patients, repeated DKA exposure and higher
hemoglobin A1c were independently associated with lower IQ (β=-.10 and β=-0.09,
respectively, ps <.01) and higher hemoglobin A1c was associated with lower
item-color recall (β=-0.10, p=0.007), after accounting for hypoglycemia,
diabetes duration, and socio-economic status.<b> Conclusion.
</b>A
single DKA episode is associated with subtle memory declines soon after type 1
diabetes diagnosis. Sizable IQ declines are detectable in children with known
diabetes, suggesting that DKA effects may be exacerbated in children with
chronic exposure to hyperglycemia.<b> <br>
</b>
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.