II. Epidemiology
- Overall 20% Prevalence of Prediabetes or diabetes in U.S. adolescents
- Of the 210,000 persons age <20 years diagnosed with Diabetes in 2018 in U.S., 11% were due to Type 2 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes has accounted for as much as a third of U.S. pediatric diabetes cases in some studies
III. Risk Factors
-
Overweight
- Body Mass Index (BMI) >85th percentile for age and gender or
- Weight for Height >85th percentile for age and gender or
- Ideal Weight for height >120th percentile for age and gender
- Family History of Type 2 Diabetes in first or second degree relative
- Maternal diabetes or Gestational Diabetes history
- Higher risk ethnic and racial groups
- Asian
- Black
- Hispanic
- Native American
- Pacific Islander
-
Insulin Resistance related findings
- Acanthosis Nigricans
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Small for Gestational Age birth weight
IV. Screening: Indications (per ADA)
- See Diabetes Screening
- Child over age 10 years (or Puberty) AND
- Meets Overweight criteria (see above) AND
- Two additional risk factors (see above)
V. Findings: Presentations
- Asymptomatic Hyperglycemia in 40% of cases
- Symptomatic Hyperglycemia (e.g. Polyuria, polydipsia, Blurred Vision, Unintentional Weight Loss)
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (25% of new Type II cases)
VI. Diagnosis
- See Diabetes Mellitus Diagnostic Criteria
- Pitfalls
- Overweight Children represent 24% of new onset Type I Diabetes
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis is present in up to 25% of children at Type II Diabetes diagnosis
- Autoimmune labs used to identify Type I Diabetes may be present in Type II Diabetes in up to 10% of children
- Glutamic Acid decarboxylase
- Islet Antigen-2 Antibodies
- Transient physiologic Insulin Resistance during Puberty
- Some teens in Prediabetes state, esp. with Obesity, may revert to normoglycemia after Puberty
- Optimize weight, Exercise and diet as well as other management as below in these children with Prediabetes
VII. Associated Conditions
-
Hypertension
- Present in up to 32% of teens at time of diagnosis
- Hyperlipidemia
- Nephropathy
- Retinopathy
VIII. Labs: General
-
Hemoglobin A1C
- Obtain every 3 months
- Goal <7% for teens and children
- Other labs (at diagnosis and annually)
IX. Labs: Self-monitored fingerstick Glucose Indications
- Insulin (check 3 times daily)
- Change in medication dosing or treatment regimen
- Comorbid illness
- Inadequate glycemic control
- Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
X. Evaluation
- Time of diagnosis
- Labs: Hemoglobin A1C, Lipid profile, Liver Function Tests, Urine Microalbumin
- Retinopathy screening
- Sleep Apnea screening
- Diabetes education including Glucose, nutrition goals, and weight goals for child
- Blood Pressure
- Every 3 months
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Lifestyle, weight, exexrcise and Medication Compliance
- Self-monitored Glucose log review
- Annually
- Influenza Vaccine
- Labs: Lipid profile, Liver Function Tests, Urine Microalbumin
- Sleep Apnea screening
- Retinopathy screening
XI. Management
-
General measures
- Weight loss goal of 7 to 10% (or BMI <85 percentile)
- Overall Approach: 5-2-1-0
- Five or more fruits and vegetables per day
- Two hours or less Screen Time per day
- One hour or more of Physical Activity per day
- No sugary drinks (and more water every day)
- Nutrition counseling with diabetic educator or dietician
- Increase nutrient dense, high quality foods (e.g. vegetables)
- Decrease calorie-dense, nutrient poor foods (e.g. simple Carbohydrates)
- Weight goal <85th percentile for age and gender
- Exercise
- Moderate to vigorous Exercise for 60 minutes per day (one session or split multiple times daily)
- Limit non-academic Screen Time to <2 hours per day
- Adjust medication dosing and timing to reduce the risk of Hypoglycemia with Exercise
- Family Involvement
- Lifestyle changes as a family are more likely to result in success for the individual child
- Recognize the need for psychosocial support for the child
- Medications
- Metformin (age 10 years old and older)
- Start at 500 mg and increase in 500 mg increments to max of 2000 mg (regardless of weight)
- Contraindicated if Ketoacidosis history, or Liver Function Tests >3 fold above upper limit of normal
- Coadminister B Vitamin Supplement or Multivitamin
- Insulin
- Indications
- Ketosis or Ketoacidosis
- Random plasma Glucose 250 mg/dl or greater
- Hemoglobin A1C >8.5%
- Dosing (much higher than adult dosing)
- Start long acting, Basal insulin (e.g. Insulin Glargine) at 0.2 to 1 unit/kg
- Consider splitting high Long-Acting Insulin requirements (>50 units/day)
- Consider Continuous Glucose Monitors
- Protocol to taper off Insulin as Glucose targets are met
- Indications
- Semaglutide (age >= 12 years)
- Dosed weekly
- BMI decreased >16% at 68 weeks
- Nausea and Vomiting occurs in 36 to 42% of patients
- Weghuberj (2022) N Engl J Med 387(24):2245-57 +PMID: 36322838 [PubMed]
- Victoza (Liraglutide)
- Approved in 2019 for use in age 10 years and older with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Expensive (approaches $1000/month) and only lower Hemoglobin A1C 0.6% in children
- (2019) presc lett 26(10): 57
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Approved in 2022 for use in age 10 years and older with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Arslanian (2022) N Engl J Med 387(5):433-43 +PMID: 35658022 [PubMed]
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
- Approved in 2023 for use in age 10 years and older with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Associated with Hgb A1C decrease of 0.8% when added to other agents over 26 weeks
- Metformin (age 10 years old and older)
- Comorbidities
- Hypertension Management indications
- Systolic or diastolic Blood Pressure >90th or 95% percentile AND
- Criteria met on 3 separate occasions
- Hypertension Management indications
XII. Complications
- See Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Pediatric Type 2 diabetes is associated with earlier complication rates (e.g. CKD) than with adult Type 2 Diabetes
XIII. Prevention
- Influenza Vaccine yearly
- Prevnar 13 followed at least 8 weeks later by Pneumovax (once)
XIV. Prognosis
- Youth Onset Type 2 diabetes doubles the cardiovascular disease risk over Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Associated with decreased lifespan by 30 to 40 years
- Onset of micro and macrovascular complications often have onset at a young age (by 20 to 30 years)
- Y-T2DM is associated with longterm Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease and Hyperlipidemia in >50%
- References
XV. References
- Creo (2024) Mayo Clinic Pediatric Days, lecture attended 1/17/2024
- Mangione (2022) JAMA 328(10):963-67 +PMID: 36098719 [PubMed]
- Xu (2018) Am Fam Physician 98(9): 590-4 [PubMed]