Epidemiological criteria and risk factors for type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents: Can we modify them?

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has become an increasingly important public health concern globally among children and adolescents. The unique features of T2DM in children are the rapidly progressive decline in β-cell function and accelerated development of complications. Important proven environmental risk factors for developing T2DM include, prediabetes (high blood glucose short of T2DM definition), obesity, inactivity, family history of T2DM, being a member of a high-risk ethnic group, and poverty. The estimated T2DM prevalence per 1000 youths aged 10 to 19 years increased significantly in many countries in the past 20 years. T2DM impacts more specific ethnic groups compared to children of other ethnicities. This search reviews the literature about epidemiological data on T2DM in children and adolescents and the different interventions adopted for its prevention and management. Epidemiological evidence indicates that T2DM in youth is different from type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and T2DM in adults. Many research articles showed that screening for abnormal blood glucose (prediabetes and diabetes) in high-risk children and adolescents represents an effective population intervention method for the early diagnosis and management of prediabetes and T2DM. The use of lifestyle intervention programs (LSI), applied successfully in the US, and many European countries, have shown some success in reversing glucose abnormalities and preventing the progression to T2DM decreasing cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, Proper screening, and the wide application of LSI programs in selected high-risk populations are expected to have good preventive outcomes reducing the incidence and complications of T2DM in children and adolescents.