Type 2 diabetes mellitus in childhood: obesity and insulin resistance.

As rates of childhood obesity climb, type 2 diabetes mellitus has increasingly been diagnosed in children and adolescents, with the highest incidence occurring among youth from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. The serious complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus make it essential for physicians to be aware of risk factors and screening guidelines, allowing for earlier patient diagnosis and treatment. It is also important for physicians to be aware of the treatment options available, including weight control through diet and exercise as well as common pharmacotherapeutic options.