TYPE 2 DIABETES IN YOUNG PEOPLE – ETIOPATHOGENESIS, DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 in young people has increased dramatically in recent decades, in parallel to the increasing prevalence of obesity. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in young people is often difficult, there are problems in differentiating between T1DM and T2DM.

T2DM is characterized by insulin resistance with progressive alteration of pancreatic beta cell function and progressive loss of insulin secretion capacity.

The screening performed in high-risk groups may be useful in early diagnosis of T2DM in young people and may prevent complications.

Although the diagnosis of T2DM in adolescents was initially regarded with skepticism, most of the cases being reported in certain ethnic groups, but nowadays, more and more cases are reported even in European populations, with a prevalence of T2DM that remains much lower than that of T1DM.