Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents

Abstract

Background The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents is increasing, mirroring the epidemic of paediatric obesity. Early-onset T2DM is associated with poor long-term outcomes. Objectives In this article, we describe the growing problem of early-onset T2DM in Australia, explore the difference between earlyonset and adult-onset T2DM, and review the management of T2DM in children and adolescents. Discussion T2DM is difficult to differentiate from the more common type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the paediatric population. Risk factors for T2DM include obesity, ethnicity and family history, and adolescence is a predisposing time for the development of T2DM due ..