Surveillance of Type 2 Diabetes in children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Surveillance of Type 2 Diabetes in children under the age of 17 years in the UK and Ireland
IRAS ID
162381
Contact name
Julian Hamilton-Shield
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study will investigate the incidence and associations of Type 2 diabetes developing in children and young people under 17 years of age in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Until recently Type 2 diabetes was not a clinical problem in children or adolescents, being a condition seen almost exclusively in adults. However there is growing evidence that the increase in childhood obesity has resulted in cases of Type 2 diabetes being seen relatively frequently in childhood. This study will repeat a survey conducted in 2004/5 using the same methodology that identified 68 children and adolescents diagnosed over a 12 month period. We believe the numbers will have increased since then.
Type 2 diabetes is linked with greatly increased ill health in adulthood and the outcome is worse in those developing the disease at an early age. So it is important to identify, treat and manage these children as soon as possible. Furthermore, there are some anecdotal reports from UK clinics and studies from the USA and Europe suggesting that some young people with Type 2 diabetes are poor attenders at clinic and have a tendency not to take their medication as prescribed. This BPSU approved study will also allow us to estimate the current incidence and whether it has increased since ten years ago. It will also allow us to examine current treatment modalities and whether there is truly a problem to delivering optimal care for this group of patients.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/1143
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion