Over the past three decades, there has been a sharp increase in the incidence and prevalence of childhood obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

At least 1 in 5 adolescents are estimated to have prediabetes. It is not clear whether the adult definition of prediabetes is appropriate for children as fewer progress to diabetes during childhood.

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“We found that higher levels on certain diabetes screening tests (non-fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c) and worsening obesity may better predict diabetes risk in children,” said study author Ashley H. Shoemaker, M.D., M.S.C.I., of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

“This is a real-world study that highlights ways to identify the children at the highest risk for diabetes and possible strategies for diabetes prevention in children such as treatment with anti-diabetes or anti-obesity medications. Our study found patients who were on metformin had lower blood sugar levels and were slower to progress to diabetes.”

The researchers found that 6.5% of 552 pediatric patients with prediabetes developed type 2 diabetes over the 7 years of their study.

They identified a few risk factors, including higher HbA1C and non-fasting glucose levels, and worsening obesity. The study found boys progressed more commonly and more quickly to type 2 diabetes than girls.

“Weight stabilization and metformin therapy could be important interventions for diabetes prevention in children,” Shoemaker said.

Reference :

1. Risk Factors for Progression to Type 2 Diabetes in a Pediatric Prediabetes Clinic Population
   – (https://academic.oup.com/jes/article/7/11/bvad118/7300968?login=true)

Source: Eurekalert