Complications in Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes

In a 2012 study, 700 overweight children and adolescents with recent-onset type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive metformin alone, metformin plus rosiglitazone, or metformin plus intensive lifestyle intervention. During 4 years in the trial, rates of poor glycemic control were substantial in all three groups — 52%, 39%, and 47%, respectively (NEJM JW Gen Med Jul 1 2012 and N Engl J Med 2012; 366:2247). Now, the researchers report long-term observational follow-up for 500 participants.

At any given time point during the most recent 10 years of follow-up, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) was >10% in ≈40% of patients, and HbA_1c was between 8% and 10% in ≈20% of patients. A quarter of patients were taking no diabetes medications; most of the …