Type 2 diabetes mellitus in overweight and obese children

Abstract EN

The objective of the study was to identify the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in overweight and obese children with di- abetes mellitus.

The period between June 2001 and September 2003, children 10-15 years-old with diabetes mellitus with a body mass index of more than 25 kg / m2 who presented to the endocrinology clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and Dr.

Sulaiman Faqeeh Hospital were included in the study.

40 (21.

5 %) of 186 children with di- abetes mellitus were identified with body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2.

Thirty (75 %) of the studys patients were diagnosed to have Type 2 diabetes based on normal or high insulin, level and, C-peptide level and negative autoantibodies (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, islet cell antibodies and insulin antibodies).

28 of the thirty patients showed good response to diet and oral antihyperglycemic drugs.

Insulin was required for better control in 2 of them.

Children diagnosed to have Type 2 diabetes mellitus had insidious presentation (polyurea, polydipsia) except one patient who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Family history of diabetes was positive in all of them and acanthosis nigricans was found in sixteen (53 %) patients only.

In conclusion, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in our children is increasing.

For the possibility of Type 2 diabetes mellitus should be considered in all diabetic children with body mass index of more than 25 kg / m2.

The recommendations of World Health Organization and American Diabetes Association should be applied.