[Weight of obesity in (pre)type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: how and when to screen for?]

Abstract

There has been wide recognition in the past decade of the increasing frequency of type 2 diabetes in youth, largely but not exclusively in North America. In some American locations and populations, incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes are much higher than those of type 1 diabetes, because of increased calorie and fat intake, and decreased exercise. The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the United States has closely paralleled the increase in childhood obesity noted there, but now across the Western world. Besides obesity, the other youth risk factors for type 2 diabetes are: ethnicity, puberty, family history, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans. Any feature or condition associated with insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia should alert to screen youth at increased risk for (pre)type 2 diabetes. Treatment goals are to decrease weight and increase exercise, to normalize insulinemia, glycemia and HbA1c, to control hypertension and hyperlipidemia. The aim of the pharmacological therapy is to decrease insulin resistance, namely by metformin. Sometimes, insulin therapy is necessary.