Family history as a risk for early-onset type 2 diabetes in Kenyan patients

Early-onset type 2 diabetes is regarded as disease occurring before the age of 40 years. It is well described, and increasing in prevalence, but there is little information from Africa. We therefore assessed the prevalence of early-onset type 2 diabetes in Nairobi, Kenya; and investigated its association with family history. Of 140 patients with type 2 diabetes, 33 (24%) had an early onset. There was a positive family history of diabetes in 85% of those with early onset, compared with 56% of those with usual onset (p=0.009). This suggests that relatives of those with early-onset type 2 diabetes should have regular diabetes screening