Behavioral interventions for adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

Recent trends show an increase in the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes among youth, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) in the United States, especially among minoritized groups, including American Indians and African Americans. Despite the growing urgency of addressing rising incidence, there is a notable lack of comprehensive intervention programs tailored to address the unique needs of AYA living with or at risk of diabetes, with current efforts largely focused on adult/older populations.

This review highlights the large gap in research regarding the implementation and efficacy of behavioral and lifestyle interventions targeting AYA with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Although we identified some studies that were relevant to this largely under-researched area, these studies are often limited by lack of long-term follow-up and highly selected samples lacking diversity.

The findings of this review underscore the need for more extensive studies on AYA-focused behavioral interventions to address diabetes prevention and management.