Clinical Characteristics of Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents / 대한소아내분비학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The number of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. This study was undertaken to characterize clinical features of type 2 diabetes mellitus and evaluate the risk factors. METHODS: This study included 27 type 2 diabetes patients out of 204 patients diagnosed as diabetes mellitus from 1994 though 2005 at Asan Medical Center. Clinical characteristics including acanthosis nigricans, obesity index, body mass index (BMI), laboratory data, and treatment methods of patients with type 2 diabetes were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 12.3+/-2.4 years. Patients were followed up for a duration of 3.1+/-1.9 years. In family history, 16 patients (59%) had one or more family members of type 2 diabetes. Ten children (37%) had acanthosis nigricans. Mean body mass index and obesity index were 28.4+/-4.9 kg/m2 and 41.6+/-27.1%, respectively. Anti-GAD antibody were not detected in any patient. Hypercholesterolemia was found in 9 patients (36%), and hypertriglyceridemia in 19 patients (76%). Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), which was calculated in 10 patients, 6.8+/-7.3. The modes of therapy included insulin alone (30%), oral hypoglycemic agents alone (63%), and combined therapy (7%). No one had developed long-term complications of diabetes during follow-up periods. CONCLUSION: Risk factors such as positive family history, obesity, acanthosis nigricans, and insulin resistance might be associated with type 2 diabetes. This study suggests that modification of obesity could prevent the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.