Childhood and adolescent onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (CAT2DM): The yoke of the young diabetics

Aims: To study the prevalence, clinical characteristics, complications, and treatment pattern of childhood – and adolescent-onset type 2 diabetes among young diabetes patients (<25 years at diagnosis). Methods: We conducted an observational retro-prospective study among young diabetics at a tertiary care hospital between January 2012 and December 2020. A detailed medical assessment, laboratory evaluation, and screening for complications were done in all patients. Results: We analyzed a total of 130 patients, with a mean age of 23 years. Forty-seven (36.2%) had a family history. Osmotic symptoms and weight loss were the predominant features, 4 had ketosis, but 34.65% were detected incidentally. Seventy-two (55.2%) were overweight and obese. Most of the patients were uncontrolled, with a mean HbA1c of 9.4 ± 2.8%. There were 1.5%, 1.5%, and 2.3% of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy cases detected at evaluation. Seventy-nine (60.8%) patients were controlled on oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) alone, and 45 (34.5%) needed insulin at onset for control. Conclusion: This study on CAT2DM emphasizes the fact that diabetes has emerged over the past decade among young adults. Screening may be needed in high-risk groups, and prompt, effective treatment may change prognosis significantly.