Type 2 Diabetes More Prevalent Than Type 1 Among Adolescents in Some Areas

Eating Disorders and Depression

Beyond these complications, other issues are often present among adolescents with type 2 diabetes. Approximately 50% have eating disorders (compared with 21% among those with type 1 diabetes), 19.3% report depressive symptoms, and 18.9% have expressed thoughts of self-harm. In addition, 19.6% have polycystic ovary syndrome. Z-scores for bone mineral density at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were significantly lower in adolescents with type 2 diabetes than in healthy peers. The presence of metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease is also more pronounced.

“The recent approvals of new pharmacological interventions for weight loss and improved glycemic control in adolescents offer hope. We hope that, over the next decade, the prevalence of complications among these young patients with type 2 diabetes will decline. In the meantime, a proactive approach is essential to prevent complications related to type 2 diabetes in these youth,” Pinhas-Hamiel concluded.

For more information, see ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines 2022: Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

Pinhas-Hamiel reported no relevant financial relationships.

This story was translated from the Medscape French edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.