Type 2 diabetes is more difficult to control when diagnosed at a young age

Type 2 diabetes is much harder to control and is more aggressive when diagnosed in a person's youth. A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease offered revealing insights regarding Type 2 diabetes.

The TODAY2 study was conducted with originally 500 participants involved. It began in 2004 and was the first major study to take a look at the effectiveness of the treatment of type 2 diabetes in youth.

Three treatments for managing blood glucose were evaluated: metformin, metformin with rosiglitazone, and metformin with an intensive lifestyle change. Study participants were between the ages of 10-17, had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for less than two years and were overweight. The average age of the participants at follow-up was 26. The participants were monitored every year for any signs of complications from diabetes including heart disease, kidney disease and foot complications. At the 7-year study visit, participants were assessed for diabetic eye disease.

What researchers found was a steady decline in blood glucose control over 15 years along with 67% of participants suffering from high blood pressure; 55% had kidney disease; 52% had high fat serum levels; 32% had nerve disease and 51% had eye disease.

When researchers compared these findings with what is seen in adults with type 2 diabetes, the study participants developed complications much earlier in the course of their disease and at a much faster rate over time. Researchers note that the study results stress the importance of treating youth-onset type 2 diabetes aggressively from the beginning using all available therapies.