Insulin at Diagnosis Beneficial for Hyperlipidemia in Type 2 Adolescents

Researchers examined the incidence of type 2 diabetes taking into consideration the increasing incidence in adolescents particularly in ethnic minorities….

"Substantial numbers of children with T2DM do not achieve glycemic and cardiovascular therapeutic goals one year after diagnosis. Insulin therapy at diagnosis has significant beneficial effects on diabetic dyslipidemia in those with higher HbA1C."

The primary objective of this study was to assess glycemic control and cardiovascular risk outcomes in children with type 2 diabetes. This study also aimed to assess whether insulin treatment at onset of diabetes is beneficial for the overall outcome in those with elevated HbA1C.

The design of this study was a retrospective electronic chart review of non-Hispanic white and African American children with type 2 diabetes. Final results from the study came from a total of 86 type 2 diabetic patients with approximately equal males and females and an average age of 13.8 ± 2.4 years.

The authors from the study gave an analysis of therapeutic outcomes at 1 year which showed HbA1C > 8% in 27.7%, LDL >130mg/dL in 12.5%, non-HDL >160mg/dL in 15.6%, HDL <35mg/dL in 25%, systolic hypertension (HTN) in 35.6% and diastolic HTN in 6.8% of subjects.

Among the study population, those started on insulin at initial diagnosis showed significant improvement in glycemic outcomes and in dyslipidemia compared to no significant change among those who did not receive insulin at diagnosis.

The authors concluded that a significant number of children with type 2 diabetes are not at goal for glycemic control nor are they at healthy cardiovascular parameters approximately one year after the initial diagnosis. However, the researchers did identify that insulin therapy upon initial diagnosis has notable benefits on diabetic dyslipidemia in those with higher HbA1C.

Carrie Ellen, Huisingh, Le Phuong , et al. "GLYCEMIC CONTROL AND DIABETIC DYSLIPIDEMIA IN ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES ." . 1 Jul. 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23807519