Is type 2 diabetes mellitus a significant problem in European adolescents?

Abstract

The rapidly rising incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in young patients is well known in North America, especially in some minorities. Population-based data suggest that the epidemic of paediatric obesity is being followed by an increase in type 2 diabetes mellitus, but for European countries there are such no population-based incidence and prevalence data. From the available data the magnitude of the problem in the European Caucasian population seems to be much less than in North America. Although type 2 diabetes mellitus is still rare in childhood, an increasing rate is expected paralleling the growing rates of obesity; therefore, children and adolescents with a substantial risk for the presence or development of type 2 diabetes should be screened. Among Hungarian obese adolescents impaired glucose tolerance was found in 17.3% and type 2 diabetes mellitus in 1.9% of children. Any feature or condition associated with insulin resistance or hyperinsulinaemia should alert health-care providers to screen young people at increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Keywords: adolescents; impaired glucose tolerance; type 2 diabetes mellitus