Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

It is estimated that more than one-third of Americans have prediabetes and up to 18% of adolescents have diabetes or prediabetes. With the ever-rising obesity crisis worldwide, the prevalence of these conditions is rising in both children and adults, making it a significant public health concern. It is known that these high rates of diabetes place individuals at risk for several comorbid conditions such as renal failure and heart disease. However, the lasting effects of prediabetes in adolescents has been poorly described. Therefore, through a comprehensive literature review, it is the goal of this article to define what risk, if any, developing prediabetes as a child will have on their overall health as an adult. It is also a goal to see if these risks are similar to those who are diagnosed with diabetes as a child.

Keywords: Children, comorbidities, diabetes, pediatric, prediabetes, risk factors