Rising Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Among Children and Adolescents Under 15 Years Over a 28-Year Period (1995-2023): Insights From a Regional Diabetes Service in Auckland, New Zealand.

Abstract

Aim: To review the incidence of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes from a regional diabetes service in New Zealand.

Method: A retrospective review analysed prospectively gathered data on T2D patients in a treatment referral cohort from January 1995 to December 2023, aged under 15 years.

Result: Between 1995 and 2023, 226 cases of paediatric type 2 diabetes (T2D) were identified. The incidence rate increased by 8.3% per year during this period. From 2020 to 2023, the overall incidence rate of T2D was 5.81 per 100 000. Incidence rates among ethnic minority groups, including Pacific peoples, Māori, and other ethnicities (Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African), were 10.3, 9.84, and 2.63 per 100 000, respectively. New Zealand European youth had an incidence rate of 0.45 per 100 000.

Conclusion: Over the past 30 years, the incidence of children and adolescents with T2D in Auckland has increased, particularly among high-risk ethnic groups. This highlights the importance of identifying high-risk subpopulations with unmet needs, implementing targeted interventions, and planning effective healthcare services to achieve equitable health outcomes.