ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There has been a dramatic rise of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in the US pediatric population, yet the presence of retinopathy and microalbuminuria in this cohort has not yet been described. AIM: To assess the presence of retinopathy and microalbuminuria in a cohort of predominantly minority adolescents (African American and Caribbean Hispanic) with DM2. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty pediatric patients with DM2 were examined between July, 2001 and June, 2003 for the presence of retinopathy. Data were also collected regarding microalbuminuria, body mass index, HbA1c, and family history of DM. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients examined, one patient (2.5%) had retinopathy, whereas nine (27.3%) had microalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: In young predominantly minority adolescents with DM2, retinopathy is rare, while microalbuminuria is common.
