Psychosocial issues in youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Little published research exists on psychosocial issues in adolescents with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), because until two decades ago, diabetes diagnosed in children and adolescents was almost exclusively type 1 diabetes mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes. In the past two decades, rates of T2DM have increased, especially in adolescents from families of minority racial and ethnic groups. Youth with T2DM are most often obese, have a parent or other first-degree relative with T2DM, and are of low socioeconomic status. To understand the complex set of interrelated psychological and social influences that affect the well-being of youth with T2DM, levels of influence from determinants of genetics, family, and community/societal and minority ethnic groups must be included.