title: Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents.
abstract: Over the last decade, there has been an alarming increase of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in youths, concomitant with the rise of obesity in this age group. T2DM is a progressive disease with a gradual increase in insulin resistance associated later with a decline in insulin secretion with fasting hyperglycemia. Prevalence of T2DM in children is mostly linked to some risk factors: obesity and sedentary lifestyle, puberty, membership of ethnic minorities, features of insulin resistance, family history of T2DM, female gender and perinatal factors. Prevention is essential and can be considered a public health approach directed to the general population. Treatment of T2DM in youth is complex and based on different strategies: diet, exercise and pharmacotherapy. An appropriated intervention program must be started early, in order to prevent or retard the progression of the disease and associated comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcovecchio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
mesh_terms: D000052:Acanthosis Nigricans / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011627:Puberty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors