1345 Sharp rise in new onset type 2 diabetes in a large DGH post lockdown

Published Date: 11th October 2021

Publication Authors: Thomas E, Upadrasta S

Background
Type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise in the UK alongside childhood obesity. NPDA 2018/19 data reported that the percentage of children and young people with Type 2 diabetes managed in Paediatric Diabetes Units (PDU) in UK has risen from 1.3% in 2012/13 to 2.6% in 2018/19. Pietrobeli et al 2020 reported that after the first wave of lockdown in Italy, a rise in obesity was seen in Italian children due to a combination of less exercise, unhealthy eating and increased screen time.

We have noted a sharp increase in Type 2 diabetes among our local paediatric population and we hypothesise that this spike could be a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Objectives
To review the cases of children and young people with type 2 diabetes presenting to our local PDU since April 2020, identify any similarities in presentation/risk factors and any potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
A retrospective study was made of all patients diagnosed with diabetes in our local PDU over a 10 month period from April 2020 to February 2021. This included the presenting features, social circumstances, blood results and presence of risk factors.

Results
There were five children and young people who were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes during the period of study. All patients had a high BMI with most patients having signs of metabolic syndrome at presentation.

In case 2 and 3 lockdown had a clear impact on diet and level of physical activity. In case 2 in particular, timely help for new onset bed wetting was not sought and this could be due to anxiety over medical environments during the pandemic.

Conclusions
All children were considerably overweight with a significant family history of diabetes as well as multiple risk factors. There was clear account of reduction in physical activity. The indirect impact of lockdown perpetuating and exacerbating lifestyle risk factors, on a background of possible genetic predisposition towards insulin resistance, may have likely led to the development of overt type 2 diabetes in these children and young people.

 

Thomas, E; Upadrasta, S. (2021). 1345 Sharp rise in new onset type 2 diabetes in a large DGH post lockdown. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 106 (Suppl 1), A329

 

 

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