TODAY2 Results: Tracking Type 2 Diabetes in Youth

Authors and/or presenters: Kimberly Drews, Ph.D.; Lorraine E. Levitt Katz, MD; Petter Bjornstad, MD; Neil H. White, MD; Jeanie B. Tryggestad, MD; Ruth S. Weinstock, MD, PhD.

Study Name: The Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY)

Study Background: TODAY was the first multiethnic randomized trial to examine type 2 diabetes in youth. Type 2 diagnoses in young populations are more frequent than adults. Until the 1990s, cases of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents were rare. In addition, the increase in the number of cases would seem to be directly related to the increase in childhood obesity rates.

Study Goals: The Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study sought to understand the progress of T2D in young populations as well as to analyze its clinical path and the risk of developing complications and comorbidities.

Study Methods: Participants consisted of groups of children and adolescents diagnosed with T2D of different races and ethnicities and a followed up to understand clinical path of complications and comorbidities in these populations. TODAY2 tracked the progress of the T2D in these populations. The results are presented in terms of complications and comorbidities such as: 

1. Renal (Kidney)
2. Cardiac
3. Ophthalmological (Vision) 
4. Pregnancy

Study Results: TODAY2 study data show accelerated rates of severe complications such as renal, cardiac, eye, nerve and pregnancy issues in young adults with youth-onset Type 2 diabetes. The research points to a huge need for more aggressive T2D management to minimize or even prevent the development of serious complications. It is also observed that type 2 diabetes in young populations appears with a higher rate of beta cell decompensation. It is also reported that there is less success in treatment with medications in these interventions.

This article is part of Beyond Type 2’s ADA 2019 coverage. For full ADA 2019 coverage, click here.

WRITTEN BY T'ara Smith, POSTED 06/11/19, UPDATED 12/12/22

T’ara was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in July 2017 at the age of 25. Since her diagnosis, she focused her academic studies and career on diabetes awareness and living a full life with it. She’s excited to have joined the Beyond Type 1 team to continue her work. Two years later, T'ara discovered she'd been misdiagnosed with type 2 and actually has latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Outside the office, T’ara enjoys going to the movies, visiting parks with her dog, listening to BTS and cooking awesome healthy meals. T’ara holds an MS in Nutrition Education from American University.