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Review
. 2021 Sep;36(5):1049-1058.
doi: 10.3904/kjim.2021.379. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Young-onset type 2 diabetes in South Korea: a review of the current status and unmet need

Ye Seul Yang  1 , Kyungdo Han  2 , Tae Seo Sohn  1 , Nam Hoon Kim  3
Affiliations
Review

Young-onset type 2 diabetes in South Korea: a review of the current status and unmet need

Ye Seul Yang et al. Korean J Intern Med. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

The prevalence of young-onset (diagnosis at age < 40 years) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally. Young-onset T2DM has a common pathophysiology of glucose dysregulation as in late-onset T2DM. However, it presents a greater association with obesity and a more rapid decline in β-cell function than late-onset T2DM. Accumulating evidence indicates that disease progression in young-onset T2DM is rapid, resulting in early and frequent development of microvascular and macrovascular complications, as well as premature death. Improper management and low adherence to medical therapy are important issues in young-onset T2DM. This review discusses the epidemiology, disease entity, and clinical issues associated with young-onset T2DM. We also present the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with young-onset T2DM in South Korea.

Keywords: Diabetes complications; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Epidemiology; Treatment adherence and compliance; Young adult.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of blood glucose level in new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus of those who underwent health checkups according to age group (A) in 2009 and (B) in 2017.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Clinic attendance rate within 1 year after recognition of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus from 2009 to 2017 according to different age groups.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Prescription rate of antidiabetic agents within 1 year after recognition of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus from 2009 to 2017 according to different age groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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