Early onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents: diagnosis, treatment, prevention

Abstract

Traditionally, type 2 diabetes mellitus was considered a disease of adulthood. Recently, although still rare in childhood, it constitutes an increasing problem. The rapid increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the young adult population is a current and emerging public health problem, for which there is a great potential to improve primary and secondary prevention: overweight and obesity prevention, early diagnosis of impaired carbohydrate metabolism, effective monitoring, intensive control to prevent diabetic complications. Treatment should also involves patients and theirs family proper education, dietary and exercise counseling. (Diabet. Prakt. 2008; 9: 36-38)