Objective: To examine childhood body mass index
(BMI), fasting glucose and insulin in relation to incident adult type-2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
<p>Research Design and Methods: We used data from The
International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort Consortium. Data included
childhood measurements (age 3-19) obtained during the 1970s-90s, a health
questionnaire including self-report of adult T2DM (occurrence age, medication
use) obtained at mean age 40 years, and a medical diagnosis registry (Finland).
</p>
<p>Results: The sample included 6,738
participants. Of these, 436 (6.5%)
reported onset of T2DM between ages 20-59 (mean 40.8) years, and 86% of them reported
use of a confirmed anti-diabetic medication. BMI and glucose (age- and
sex-standardized) were associated with incident T2DM after adjustment for cohort,
country, sex, race, age and calendar year of measurement. Increasing levels of
childhood BMI and glucose were related to incrementally increased risk of T2DM
beginning at age 30, beginning at cut points below the 95<sup>th</sup>
percentile for BMI and below 100 mg/dL for glucose. Insulin was positively
associated with adult T2DM after adjustment for BMI and glucose and added to
T2DM discrimination. </p>
<p>Conclusions:
Childhood BMI and glucose
are predictors of adult T2DM at levels previously considered to be within the normal
range. These easy to apply measurements are appealing from a clinical
perspective. Fasting insulin has the potential to be an additional predictor.</p>
Childhood Body Mass Index and Fasting Glucose and Insulin Predict Adult Type-2 Diabetes: The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium