[Type 2 Diabetes in children and adolescents: literature review].
OBJECTIVE
To perform a critical review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of T2DM in youth.


METHODS
This review is based on the relevant literature published. The sources available for the authors were integrated with sources identified through Medline database. The key words used for searching were "Type 2 Diabetes in the Youth" in the last ten years.


RESULTS
The pathophysiology (altered beta-cell function and insulin resistance) of T2DM in youth is similar to the pathophysiology in adults. Familiar type 2 diabetes history, presence of obesity, acanthosis nigricans, high fasting plasma C-peptide levels and absence of islet-cell auto-antibodies are important clues to diagnose T2DM in youth. Five to 25% of these patients can present ketosis at diagnosis. Insulin therapy can be discontinued during the evolution. Compliance to diet and an exercise program are essential aspects of the treatment of adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
As obesity in the young is currently increasing in several developed or developing countries, T2DM in the youth can be considered a growing problem also in our population.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans