The prevalence of childhood‐onset Type 1 diabetes mellitus is important for determining health care provisions. In Leicestershire 13.5% of the childhood population (0–14 years) is of South Asian origin (census 1991). This study determined the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Whites and South Asians in Leicestershire, using a capture/recapture method to coincide with the 1991 Census day. Children (0–14 years) with Type 1 diabetes were captured from the central diabetic register. The health visitor and consultant records were used to recapture the cases. Total ascertainment of cases was 95–100%. The prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in White children (107 cases) was 0.75/1000 children (95% CI 0.61–0.89) compared with the South Asian prevalence (18 cases) of 0.77/1000 (95% CI 0.41–1.13). The overall prevalence in White males was 0.82/1000 (0.61–1.03) compared with 0.68/1000 (0.48–0.87) in females. In South Asian males it was 0.59/1000 (0.15–1.03) compared with 0.96/1000 (0.39–1.53) in females. The prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children of South Asian migrants to the United Kingdom cannot be said to be different from White children. 1994 Diabetes UK

prevalence rates Epidemiology Europid White Childhood onset Type 1 diabetes South Asians

insulin dependent diabetes mellitus human Asia controlled study comparative study Great Britain Adolescent Infant, Newborn male England female Infant Child, Preschool Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent Caucasoid Race race prevalence Article major clinical study Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Sex Factors Age Factors United Kingdom Child