Presence of diabetes risk factors in a large U.S. eighth-grade cohort.
OBJECTIVE
The study was conducted in 12 middle schools to determine the prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and diabetes risk factors in eighth-grade students who were predominantly minority and evaluate the feasibility of collecting physical and laboratory data in schools.


METHODS
Anthropometric measurements and fasting and 2-h post-glucose load blood draws were obtained from approximately 1,740 eighth-grade students.


RESULTS
Mean recruitment rate was 50% per school, 49% had BMI > or = 85th percentile, 40.5% had fasting glucose > or = 100 mg/dl, 0.4% had fasting glucose > or = 126 mg/dl, and 2.0% had 2-h glucose > or = 140 mg/dl and 0.1% > or = 200 mg/dl. Mean fasting insulin value was 30.1 microU/ml, 36.2% had fasting insulin > or = 30 microU/ml, and 2-h mean insulin was 102.1 microU/ml. Fasting and 2-h glucose and insulin values increased across BMI percentiles, and fasting glucose was highest in Hispanic and Native American students.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of risk factors for diabetes, including impaired fasting glucose (> or =100 mg/dl), hyperinsulinism suggestive of insulin resistance (fasting insulin > or = 30 microU/ml), and BMI > or = 85th percentile. These data suggest that middle schools are appropriate targets for population-based efforts to decrease overweight and diabetes risk.
Baranowski
T
T
George Washington University Biostatistics Center, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
Cooper
D M
DM
Harrell
J
J
Hirst
K
K
Kaufman
F R
FR
Goran
M
M
Resnicow
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000208:ethnology*; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D001786:Blood Glucose