Presence of Diabetes Risk Factors in a Large U.S. Eighth-Grade Cohort

Presence of Diabetes Risk Factors in a Large U.S. Eighth-Grade Cohort The STOPP-T2D Prevention Study Group * From the George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Rockville, Maryland Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kathryn Hirst, PhD, George Washington University Biostatistics Center, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852. E-mail: khirst{at}biostat.bsc.gwu.edu Abstract OBJECTIVE —The study was conducted in 12 middle schools to determine the prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and diabetes risk factors in eighth-grade students who were predominantly minority and evaluate the feasibility of collecting physical and laboratory data in schools. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Anthropometric measurements and fasting and 2-h post-glucose load blood draws were obtained from ∼1,740 eighth-grade students. RESULTS —Mean recruitment rate was 50% per school, 49% had BMI ≥85th percentile, 40.5% had fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dl, 0.4% had fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl, and 2.0% had 2-h glucose ≥140 mg/dl and 0.1% ≥200 mg/dl. Mean fasting insulin value was 30.1 μU/ml, 36.2% had fasting insulin ≥30 μU/ml, and 2-h mean insulin was 102.1 μU/ml. Fasting and 2-h glucose and insulin values increased across BMI percentiles, and fasting glucose was highest in Hispanic and Native American students. CONCLUSIONS —There was a high prevalence of risk factors for diabetes, including impaired fasting glucose (≥100 mg/dl), hyperinsulinism suggestive of insulin resistance (fasting insulin ≥30 μU/ml), and BMI ≥85th percentile. These data suggest that middle schools are appropriate targets for population-based efforts to decrease overweight and diabetes risk. IFG, impaired fasting glucose IGT, impaired glucose tolerance NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey STOPP-T2D, Studies to Treat Or Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Footnotes * ↵ * A complete listing of STOPP-T2D Prevention Study Group members can be found in the appendix . A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. Accepted October 23, 2005. Received June 7, 2005. DIABETES CARE