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

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.