Premium
Diabetes in young people in the T op E nd of the N orthern T erritory
Author(s) -
Stone Monique,
Baker Alice,
Maple Brown Louise
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12265
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , body mass index , population , young adult , gerontology , pediatrics , endocrinology , environmental health
Aim There is an increasing prevalence and burden of diabetes in young people, particularly I ndigenous A ustralians. There have been no previous reports of the prevalence or burden of diabetes in young people in the T op E nd of the N orthern T erritory, a region of many risk factors for diabetes. Methods This is a retrospective study of cases of diabetes in children and adults aged less than 25 years who were seen at R oyal D arwin H ospital as inpatients or outpatients between 2007 and 2011. Results From a population base of approximately 75 000 young people living north of T enant C reek, there were 70 young people with type 1 diabetes (12 A boriginal and/or T orres S trait I slander A ustralians) and 37 young people with type 2 diabetes (31 A boriginal or Torres S trait I slander A ustralians). The median body mass index of those with type 2 diabetes was 28 kg/m 2 , and only 29% had a body mass index >30 kg/m 2 . Overall, glycaemic control was poor. Conclusions Rates of diabetes in young people in the T op E nd appear high. Case ascertainment and data collection were difficult for this study, highlighting the need for better database and systems for diabetes management.