Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Although type 1 diabetes continues to remain the most common form of childhood diabetes in most of the countries including India, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. This increase is attributed to the modern sedentary lifestyle causing a phenotype of insulin resistance in genetically predisposed individuals. The differentiation between type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be done in most of the cases but may be difficult in obese adolescents with relatively acute presentation. The demonstration of various antibodies is helpful in such circumstances. The earlier age of onset puts patients at risk of earlier age of complications. The management is very challenging as lifestyle modification by the patient and the family is the mainstay of the management. Emphasis should be done on primary prevention with a focus on healthier lifestyles among children.