Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents is increasing, mirroring the epidemic of paediatric obesity. Early-onset T2DM is associated with poor long-term outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
In this article, we describe the growing problem of early-onset T2DM in Australia, explore the difference between early-onset and adult-onset T2DM, and review the management of T2DM in children and adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
T2DM is difficult to differentiate from the more common type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the paediatric population. Risk factors for T2DM include obesity, ethnicity and family history, and adolescence is a predisposing time for the development of T2DM due to physiological insulin resistance. Early-onset T2DM is more associated with shorter duration to insulin requirement, development of diabetic complications and cardiovascular disease than adult-onset T2DM and T1DM. The main goals in management include normalising hyperglycaemia, facilitating lifestyle modifications and managing diabetes-related and obesity-related comorbidities.
Kung-Ting
KT
Kao
Matthew A
MA
Sabin
D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans