NEWS & VIEWS DIABETES
Young-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus—a challenge for Asia Yifei Zhang and Guang Ning
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing in young Asian adults; however, little is known about the associated clinical characteristics and the prevalence of complications. A recent Asia-wide prospective cohort study has revealed poor metabolic control in patients with young-onset T2DM, indicating more efficient health-care strategies are warranted to manage this vulnerable population. Zhang, Y. & Ning, G. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 10, 703–704 (2014); published online 9 September 2014; doi:10.1038/nrendo.2014.162
The continuing worldwide increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses serious challenges for health-care systems. In Asian populations, the prevalence of T2DM is expected to increase more rapidly in the future than in the past and with a disproportionate burden among young and middle-aged individuals.1,2 The reasons for the declining age at onset of T2DM are complicated; however, sedentary lifestyles and an increasing prevalence of obesity in young and middleaged individuals might partly explain the increasing prevalence of T2DM.3 Unlike late-onset T2DM, limited information is available on the natural history, clinical characteristics, metabolic control and prevalence of complications in young-onset T2DM. However, a recent paper published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology might provide some answers.4 Yeung and colleagues report data from a large, multi national prospective cohort study (the JADE programme) and show that patients with young-onset T2DM have poorer metabolic control than patients with late-onset disease.4 The findings call for more effective and efficient health-care strategies to manage this vulnerable population.4 The JADE programme was conducted in 245 institutions in nine countries or regions across Asia.4 In total, 41,029 patients with T2DM were enrolled, among whom 7,481 (18.23%) were patients with young-onset disease (
Young-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus—a challenge for Asia Yifei Zhang and Guang Ning
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing in young Asian adults; however, little is known about the associated clinical characteristics and the prevalence of complications. A recent Asia-wide prospective cohort study has revealed poor metabolic control in patients with young-onset T2DM, indicating more efficient health-care strategies are warranted to manage this vulnerable population. Zhang, Y. & Ning, G. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 10, 703–704 (2014); published online 9 September 2014; doi:10.1038/nrendo.2014.162
The continuing worldwide increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses serious challenges for health-care systems. In Asian populations, the prevalence of T2DM is expected to increase more rapidly in the future than in the past and with a disproportionate burden among young and middle-aged individuals.1,2 The reasons for the declining age at onset of T2DM are complicated; however, sedentary lifestyles and an increasing prevalence of obesity in young and middleaged individuals might partly explain the increasing prevalence of T2DM.3 Unlike late-onset T2DM, limited information is available on the natural history, clinical characteristics, metabolic control and prevalence of complications in young-onset T2DM. However, a recent paper published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology might provide some answers.4 Yeung and colleagues report data from a large, multi national prospective cohort study (the JADE programme) and show that patients with young-onset T2DM have poorer metabolic control than patients with late-onset disease.4 The findings call for more effective and efficient health-care strategies to manage this vulnerable population.4 The JADE programme was conducted in 245 institutions in nine countries or regions across Asia.4 In total, 41,029 patients with T2DM were enrolled, among whom 7,481 (18.23%) were patients with young-onset disease (
