title: Treatment options for paediatric diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease in childhood. The global incidence of diabetes emphasizes the health, social and financial magnitude of this disease and the importance of optimizing disease management and prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the treatments options for type 1 and 2 diabetes in children, focusing on insulin regimens and new alternative therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment goals for children with diabetes mellitus are to achieve normal development with prevention of complications. Insulin is the primary medication in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. New therapeutic options and prevention strategies (cellular therapies, immunomodulation and vaccination) aim to preserve residual beta-cell function. There are limited data about the effectiveness and safety of treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes. Many oral agents are approved only for use in adults and have not been yet studied in children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapy regimens should be adapted to the lifestyle of individual patients to achieve optimal blood glucose control. The replacement of beta-cells, preservation of the residual beta-cell function and investigation of additional oral treatment options, present a hope for a cure.
authors.affiliation: University of Chieti, Department of Pediatrics, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Chiuri
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blasetti
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohn
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000639:trends*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin