Characteristics of 98 Children and Adolescents Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes by Their Health Care Provider at Initial Presentation

Although the number of children and youth with type 2 diabetes is increasing, a clear case definition that describes children with type 2 diabetes at presentation remains elusive. Most initial diagnoses are decided on the clinical picture at presentation (1). Characteristics and risk factors have been outlined in several review and clinical articles (2–4). The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of youth presenting for an initial visit to the outpatient clinic of a large tertiary children’s care center and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

For this retrospective study, data were abstracted from a consecutive sample of 98 patients’ medical records at Texas Children’s Hospital starting 1 January 1998 and ending 31 October 2001. The sample’s mean age at diagnosis was 13.6 years (SD 2.33; range 8.7–18.4 years). Fifty-one percent of the children were female and 49% were male (female:male ratio 1:1). For 43% race/ethnicity was not specified; the remaining participants were 28.6% African American, 22.4% Hispanic, 3.1% non-Hispanic white, and 3.1% Asian. Of those for whom data were available, a maternal history of type 2 diabetes was reported by 32.7% (18/55) and an unspecified type of diabetes by 12.7% (7/55). Twenty-seven percent (13/47) reported a father with type 2 diabetes and 21% (10/47) an unspecified type of diabetes.

Mean BMI was 34.67 kg/m² (SD 6.91). Ninety-three percent had a BMI ≥95th percentile. All but three of the individuals had BMIs ≥85th percentile. Of those for whom data were recorded, acanthosis nigricans was identified in 94% (48/51). A Tanner stage of 3, 4, or 5 was identified in 73.2% (49/67).

Blood pressure readings indicated that 49.4% (41/83) had a systolic (SBP) and 10.8% (9/83) a diastolic (DBP) ≥95th percentile for age, sex, and height (n = 83). Fifty-five percent (46/83) had SBP and 19.3% (16/83) DBP readings ≥90th percentile for blood pressure. Of 72 pulse rates recorded, 2.6% were ≥95th percentile for age. Average HbA_1c was 10.38 (SD 3.52) (n = 95).

Of those who had symptoms documented in the medical record, 83.6% (56/67) reported polyuria, 83.9% (52/62) polydipsia, and 61% (36/59) polyphagia. Seventy-five percent reported both polyuria and polydipsia (46/61). Of the cases available, 46.2% (24/52) reported all three of the polys at initial presentation, 46.8% (29/62) had weight loss, and 62.5% (30/48) had ketones. Of those for whom islet cell antibody data were recorded (50/98), 49 had JDF units <5. Fifty-three percent were started on insulin, 46.3% on oral agents, and 13.7% on both insulin and oral agent (n = 96). Initial mean insulin dose was 0.6 units/kg.

Our sample is similar to those described in previous reports except for a more even ratio of female to male subjects, a greater percent with elevated SBP and/or DBP, and more individuals reporting weight loss. We are the first to report blood pressure by the 95th and 90th percentiles and the first to report pulse rate. These data contribute to the growing body of clinical evidence defining the characteristics of youth with type 2 diabetes.