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Prevalence of T1D and T2D Among US Youths
N Engl J Med; 2017 Apr 13; Mayer-Davis, et al
There was a significant increase in incidences of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among US youths from 2002 to 2012, particularly among minority racial and ethnic groups, a recent study found. Cases at 5 study centers in the US included a total of 11,245 youths with T1D (aged 0 to 19 years) and 2,846 youths with T2D (aged 10 to 19 years). Researchers found:
- Overall unadjusted estimated incidence rates of T1D increased by 1.4% with annual rate of increase greater among Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites.
- Overall unadjusted incidence rates of T2D increased by 7.1% annually.
- Relative annual increase in the incidence of T2D among non-Hispanic whites was lower than that among non-Hispanic blacks, Asians or Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.
- After adjustments, the relative annual increase in the incidence of T1D was 1.8% and for T2D was 4.8%.
Citation:
Mayer-Davis EJ, Lawrence JM, Dabelea D, et al. Incidence trends of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among youths, 2002-2012. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:1419-1429. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1610187.
The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes has increased greatly over the last 15 years, and if this trend continues, it is expected that between 20-30% of all adults may have diabetes by 2050.1 The current study shows that the increase in diabetes is also occurring among youth. The reasons for the increase in type 1 diabetes are not clear. The reason for the increase in type 2 diabetes is likely related to the increase in childhood obesity. —Neil Skolnik, MD