Diabetes mellitus type 2 in children [Diabetes Mellitus Typ 2 bei Kindern]

Recent reports indicate an increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (TD2M) in children and adolescents in Germany, possibly due to the increasing prevalence of obesity. Manifestation of T2DM is usually at mid- to late puberty, with few symptoms. Most children and adolescents with T2DM are extremely obese, have relatives with T2DM, and show other clinical features of the insulin resistance syndrome such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or acanthosis nigricans. Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians, and Indians suffer more frequently from T2DM compared with Caucasians. Primary therapy is weight reduction, which is difficult to achieve in everyday life. Metformin is regarded as the drug of choice, and insulin therapy is necessary in severe cases. Treatment of T2DM comorbidities is important but seldom practiced. © 2007 Springer Medizin Verlag.