Prevalence and characteristics of paediatric Type 2 diabetes in the Republic of Ireland

To establish the prevalence of paediatric Type 2 diabetes in the Republic of Ireland and describe patient demographics, initial presentation, management, outcomes, comorbidities and complications.

Using a standardized proforma we conducted a cross-sectional survey of children and adolescents aged < 16 years with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes between October and December 2015 in each of the 19 centres in the Republic of Ireland responsible for the care of children with diabetes.

Twelve cases of Type 2 diabetes were identified, giving a prevalence in children aged <16 years of 1.2/100 000 (95% CI 0.6 to 2). Six of these children (50%) were white, two (33%) of whom were members of the travelling community. Four (33%) were of black ethnicity. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in traveller children was 16.1/100 000 (95% CI 1.9 to 58.1) and was similar to that in black children, a known high-risk group, which was 13.3/100 000 (95% CI 3.6 to 34.1). The median current HbA_1c value was 51 mmol/mol (6.8%) and four (33%) of the children achieved the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes target HbA_1c of ≤48 mmol/mol (6.5%). Seven (59%) children were managed on metformin monotherapy, three (25%) were managed on insulin and metformin in combination, and two (16%) were receiving dietary management.

This was the first national study to estimate the prevalence of childhood Type 2 diabetes in Ireland. Despite their white ethnicity, traveller children appear to be a high-risk group, but this finding requires further study.