Prematurity should not prevent genetic testing for neonatal diabetes

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia in premature infants is usually thought to reflect inadequate pancreatic development rather than monogenic neonatal diabetes. No studies, to our knowledge, have investigated the prevalence of monogenic forms of diabetes in preterm infants. METHODS: We studied 750 patients with diabetes diagnosed before 6 months of age. We compared the genetic etiology and clinical characteristics of 146 preterm patients born 32 weeks). Prematurity should not prevent referral for genetic testing as 37% have a potassium channel mutation and as a result can get improved control by replacing insulin with sulphonylurea therapy.REJB was funded by Diabetes UK, through funding from a Clinical Training Fellowship, and the National Institute of Health Research from an Academic Clinical Lectureship award. IKT and DJGM are supported by the Wessex CRN, NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Southampton, and Diabetes UK. BS and MS are supported by the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility. The genetic testing was funded by the Wellcome Trust. ATH and SE are Wellcome Trust Senior Investigators. ATH is an NIHR Senior Investigator