Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Asian and Pacific Islander US Youth The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

OBJECTIVE - Given limited reports on diabetes among U.S. Asian and Pacific Islander youth, we describe the clinical characteristics, incidence, and prevalence of diabetes among Asian, Pacific Islander, and mixed Asian-Pacific Islander youth. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Data were collected from 245 Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Islander participants ill the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, it population-based study of diabetes in youth (aped <20 years), Additionally, we estimated the incidence and prevalence of type I and type 2 diabetes for Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Islander youth combined. RESULTS - Most participants with type 2 diabetes were obese (range Asian 71% to Pacific Islander 100%) with mean BMI >33 kg/m(2). In those with type I diabetes, Pacific Islanders were more likely to lie obese, with a mean BMI of 26 vs. 20 kg/m(2) for Asian and Asian-Pacific Islander youth (P < 0.0001) The incidence of type I diabetes for Youth aged 0-9 years was 6.4 per 100,000 person-years and 7.4 per 100,000 person-years for youth aged 10-19 years. The incidence of type 2 diabetes was 12.1 per 100,000 person-years for youth aged 10-19 years. CONCLUSIONS - While Asian and Asian-Pacific Islanders with type I and type 2 diabetes had lower mean IN Is than Pacific Islanders, all Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Islanders with type 2 diabetes had mean BMIs above adult ethnicity-specific definitions or obesity. While the majority of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Islander youth had type 1 diabetes, older Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Islander Youth (aged 10-19 years) have,in incidence of type 2 diabetes almost double that of type I diabetes. Public health efforts to prevent type 2 diabetes and obesity in Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Islander adolescents are needed. Diabetes Care 32 (Suppl. 2):S133-S140, 2009