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Type 2 diabetes mellitus in adolescents
1Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. callahant@a1.tch.harvard.edu
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|August 16, 2000
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasingly diagnosed in youth, particularly in certain ethnic groups. This paper reviews risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and new screening guidelines for type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing concern in pediatric populations, contributing to adult morbidity and mortality.
- Genetic and environmental factors, including obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and diet, influence T2DM development.
- Certain ethnic groups, such as Black, Hispanic American, and Native American adolescents, exhibit higher T2DM prevalence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine risk factors associated with T2DM in children and adolescents.
- To review current diagnostic criteria for pediatric T2DM.
- To discuss newly established screening criteria for T2DM in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on T2DM risk factors, diagnosis, and screening in pediatric populations.
- Analysis of prevalence data across different ethnic groups.
- Examination of established and emerging screening protocols.
Main Results:
- Identified key risk factors including genetics, obesity, inactivity, and diet.
- Highlighted subtle onset of hyperglycemia and symptoms in youth.
- Noted increased prevalence in specific minority adolescent groups.
Conclusions:
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing pediatric T2DM.
- Diet modification and increased physical activity are key preventive strategies.
- Updated screening criteria aim to improve early detection in at-risk youth.