Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Youth-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: an urgent challenge

Petter Bjornstad, Lily C. Chao, Melanie Cree‐Green, Allison Dart, Malcolm King, Helen C. Looker, Dianna J. Magliano, Kristen J. Nadeau, Orit Pinhas‐Hamiel, Amy S. Shah, Daniël H. van Raalte, Meda E. Pavkov, Robert G. Nelson

Nature Reviews Nephrology · 2022

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Summary

This narrative review in Nature Reviews Nephrology synthesises evidence on the emerging public health challenge of type 2 diabetes in younger populations. The paper appears to document rising incidence globally, more aggressive disease progression, and earlier onset of microvascular and macrovascular complications compared to adult-onset disease. The authors argue that youth-onset type 2 diabetes represents a distinct clinical and epidemiological entity requiring urgent prevention and management strategies.

Regional applicability

The findings are relevant to UK paediatric and adolescent health policy, particularly regarding prevention programmes, early screening, and specialist service provision for young people with type 2 diabetes. Rising prevalence in younger UK populations, linked to obesity and dietary factors, mirrors international trends described in the review.

Key measures

Incidence and prevalence of youth-onset type 2 diabetes; age of onset; progression to renal and cardiovascular complications; metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers

Outcomes reported

The paper reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, complications and management strategies for type 2 diabetes diagnosed in children and young adults. It examines disease burden, aetiological factors and clinical outcomes in youth-onset populations across multiple regions.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Dietary patterns & chronic disease
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Human clinical
DOI
10.1038/s41581-022-00645-1
Catalogue ID
SNmojg064n-ypquw7

Topic tags

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