Obesity Linked to Increased Risk for Progression to T2D in Children

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- For children with prediabetes, factors associated with an increased risk for progression to type 2 diabetes (T2D) include obesity, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Natasha Belsky, from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, and colleagues conducted a retrospective chart review of a pediatric prediabetes clinic. Data were included for 552 patients; during 2.4 ± 1.5 years, 6.5 percent progressed to T2D.

The researchers found that T2D progressors had a higher body mass index, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), two-hour glucose, and C-peptide at the initial visit. No significant difference was seen in fasting glucose. Male sex, initial visit HbA1c, and two-hour glucose level were all predictive of T2D progression in a multivariable model (hazard ratios, 2.4, 1.3 per 0.1 percent, and 1.2 per 10-mg/dL increase). An increase in body mass index of 4.2 kg/m² was seen for patients who progressed to T2D, while children consistently taking metformin took longer to progress.

"This is a real-world study that highlights ways to identify the children at highest risk for diabetes and possible strategies for diabetes prevention in children such as treatment with antidiabetes or antiobesity medications," coauthor Ashley H. Shoemaker, M.D., also from Vanderbilt University, said in a statement. "Our study found patients who were on metformin had lower blood sugar levels and were slower to progress to diabetes."

One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text