Acute and chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents

Abstract

With the increase in prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adolescents, a rise in incidence of secondary comorbidities--including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, nephropathy, and retinopathy--is anticipated. Furthermore, findings of studies in young adults have suggested that the development and progression of clinical complications might be especially rapid when the onset of type 2 diabetes is early, raising the possibility of a serious public-health challenge in the next few decades. To date, reports of the epidemiology and natural history of secondary complications specifically in adolescents with type 2 diabetes have been scarce. Yet, we must begin to understand the extent of the coming challenge. To this end, we have reviewed reports on acute and long-term comorbidities associated with type 2 diabetes in young people and have looked at mounting evidence that this group could be at increased risk for development of early complications.