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An Integrative Analysis of the Effect of Lifestyle and Pharmacological Interventions on Glucose Metabolism in the Prevention and Treatment of Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes

  • Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes (PS Zeitler, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Preventing and managing youth-onset type 2 diabetes are a major challenge. This paper reviews the evidence of lifestyle and drug therapies in improving glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity. Forty-four interventions were analyzed, of which 11 were drug (mainly metformin) interventions combined with lifestyle while the remainder used lifestyle strategies only. Fewer than a dozen out of 44 interventions reported significant improvements in glucose-related outcomes. Metformin in addition to lifestyle therapy did not necessarily enhance intervention effects. The overall lack of findings can be partially attributed to the heterogeneity of study populations, the lack of intervention intensity, under-powered study design, and the challenging lives of at-risk populations. New treatment options in both drugs and lifestyle strategies are direly needed.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Huang was a member of the American Diabetes Association Consensus Panel on Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. TH conceptualized and led the writing of the paper. EF and DT conducted literature reviews and assisted with the drafting of sections of the paper.

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  1. Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 W. 125th Street, #803, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    Terry T-K Huang, Emily Ferris & Devanshi Tripathi

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  1. Terry T-K Huang
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  2. Emily Ferris
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Correspondence to Terry T-K Huang.

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Terry T-K Huang, Emily Ferris, and Devanshi Tripathi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes

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Huang, T.TK., Ferris, E. & Tripathi, D. An Integrative Analysis of the Effect of Lifestyle and Pharmacological Interventions on Glucose Metabolism in the Prevention and Treatment of Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep 16, 78 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0767-x

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