Related Experiment Videos
Increasing prevalence of Type II diabetes in American Indian children
D Dabelea1, R L Hanson, P H Bennett
1National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, Arizona 85014, USA.
Insights
Type II diabetes is increasingly common in Pima Indian children, especially those aged 10 and older. Rising childhood weight and prenatal exposure to diabetes contribute significantly to this epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Type II diabetes was historically rare in children but is now rising in pediatric populations.
- Populations with high adult Type II diabetes rates are experiencing increased childhood diagnoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Type II diabetes in Pima Indian children over a 30-year period.
- To investigate the association between diabetes prevalence, weight, and in utero exposure.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 5274 Pima Indian children was studied from 1967 to 1996.
- Diabetes diagnosis followed World Health Organization criteria using oral glucose tolerance tests.
- Data analyzed across three 10-year periods for age groups 5-9, 10-14, and 15-19 years.
Main Results:
- Diabetes prevalence increased significantly over time in children aged 10 and older.
- Prevalence rose notably in boys and girls aged 10-14 and 15-19.
- Increases in relative weight and in utero diabetes exposure were strongly correlated with rising diabetes rates (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Type II diabetes is now common in American Indian children aged 10+, with dramatic increases observed.
- Rising childhood weight and prenatal diabetes exposure are key drivers of this epidemic.
- A cycle of in utero exposure appears to perpetuate the increasing prevalence of childhood Type II diabetes.
Abstract:
Until recently, Type II diabetes was considered rare in children. The disease is, however, increasing among children in populations with high rates of Type II diabetes in adults. The prevalence of Type II diabetes was determined in 5274 Pima Indian children between 1967 and 1996 in three 10-year time periods, for age groups 5-9, 10-14 and 15-19 years. Diabetes was diagnosed using World Health Organisation criteria, based on an oral glucose tolerance test. The prevalence of diabetes increased over time in children aged 10 years and over: in boys from 0 % in 1967-1976 to 1.4% in 1987-1996 in the 10-14 year old age group, and from 2.43% to 3.78% for age group 15-19 and in girls from 0.72 % in 1967-1976 to 2.88 % in 1987-1996 in the 10-14 year old age group, and from 2.73 % to 5.31 % for age group 15-19 years. Along with the increase in the prevalence of Type II diabetes (p < 0.0001), there was an increase in weight (calculated as percentage of relative weight, p < 0.0001), and in frequency of exposure to diabetes in utero (p < 0.0001). The increasing weight and increasing frequency of exposure to diabetes in utero accounted for most of the increase in diabetes prevalence in Pima Indian children over the past 30 years. Type II diabetes is now a common disease in American Indian children aged 10 or more years and has increased dramatically over time, along with increasing weight. A vicious cycle related to an increase in the frequency of exposure to diabetes in utero appears to be an important feature of this epidemic.