Determinants of Course of Type 2 Diabetes in Indian Adolescents

To identify determinants of the course of Type 2 diabetes in Indian adolescents.

Records of 37 adolescents (24 boys; 29 post pubertal and eight pubertal) with Type 2 diabetes (initial HbA1C 10.1 ± 1.9% and BMI SDS 2.0 ± 0.8; family history of diabetes in 33, 89.2%) diagnosed at 15.2 ± 2.5 y and followed up for 3.8 ± 2.2 y till 19.1 ± 3.3 y of age, were reviewed.

Initial treatment included insulin in 11 (29.7%), metformin alone in 22 (59.5%), and a combination of anti-diabetic medication in four (10.8%). Eleven subjects (29.7%) achieved remission at a median period of 5.3 mo (IQR- 17.13) after diagnosis; six of these relapsed within 0.9 ± 0.3 (range 0.4-1.3) y. The proportion of subjects requiring multiple anti-diabetic agents increased over follow-up (19% at six months, 32.5% at one year, 50% at two years, 59.1% at three, and 64.8% at four years), with the need for combination therapy after 0.9 ± 1.4 y. At the last follow-up, five were off treatment (13.5%), 10 (27%) were on metformin alone, and 22 (59.5%) were on multiple medications. The need for combination therapy at the last follow-up was lower in subjects with remission (27% against 73.1%, p = 0.02).

The findings of this study suggest delayed presentation and rapid progression of Type 2 diabetes in Indian adolescents. Diagnosis on screening and achievement of remission were predictors of good outcome.