Prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose levels among US adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the current prevalence of self-reported diabetes and impaired fasting glucose levels among US adolescents.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002).


METHODS
A sample of 4370 adolescents (aged 12-19 years) with self-reported diabetes and a subsample of 1496 adolescents without self-reported diabetes who had fasted for at least 8 hours. Subjects who reported having diabetes and using insulin were further categorized as having type 1 diabetes, those reporting having diabetes and not using insulin as having type 2 diabetes, and those with a fasting plasma glucose level greater than or equal to 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) as having impaired fasting glucose levels.


METHODS
Prevalence of self-reported diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and impaired fasting glucose levels among US adolescents.


RESULTS
In the full sample, 0.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24%-0.76%) of adolescents reported having diabetes. Of those reporting diabetes, roughly 71% (95% CI, 56%-86%) were categorized as having type 1 and 29% (95% CI, 14%-44%) as having type 2 diabetes. In the subsample, roughly 11% (95% CI, 8%-14%) had impaired fasting glucose levels. Using population-based sample weights, these proportions were equivalent to 39 005 US adolescents with type 2 diabetes and 2 769 736 with impaired fasting glucose levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose levels is substantial among US adolescents. These estimates have important implications for public health because of the high rate of conversion from impaired fasting glucose level to type 2 diabetes in adults and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Duncan
Glen E
GE
Nutritional Sciences Program, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA. duncag@u.washington.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose