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Type 2 diabetes in children

Last reviewed: 24 Mar 2025
Last updated: 24 Apr 2025
24 Apr 2025

Dapagliflozin approved by FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes in children

The sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve glycemic control in pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes ages 10 years and older. Prior to this, dapagliflozin was approved only in adults with type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control.

The approval in pediatric patients was based on results from T2NOW, one of the largest pediatric type 2 diabetes phase 3 trials to date. Data demonstrated a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for patients treated with dapagliflozin compared with patients receiving placebo.The safety results in this patient population were consistent with those in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Dapagliflozin has also received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in children ages ≥10 years with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

See Management: approach

Original source of update

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • polyuria
  • polydipsia
  • acanthosis nigricans
  • nocturia
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • hypertension
  • yeast infections
  • skin infections
  • urinary tract infections
  • fatigue
  • blurred vision
  • weight loss
Full details

Risk factors

  • obesity
  • genetic predisposition/family history
  • African-American, Hispanic, American-Indian, and Asian or Pacific Islander
  • puberty
  • female sex
  • diabetic in-utero environment
  • small for gestational age
  • rapid growth in infancy
  • bottle feeding
  • high protein intake in infancy
  • polycystic ovaries
  • intramyocellular lipid content
  • fat deposition in the liver
  • learning disability
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • urine dipstick
  • random plasma glucose
  • fasting plasma glucose
  • HbA1c
  • autoantibodies to insulin, islet antigen (IA-2), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • 2-hour plasma glucose
  • random C-peptide
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

ketoacidosis or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS)

ONGOING

HbA1c <8.5%: no acidosis or ketosis

HbA1c ≥8.5%: no acidosis with or without ketosis

Contributors

Authors

Jennifer Miller, MD
Jennifer Miller

Professor

Department of Pediatrics

University of Florida

Gainesville

FL

Disclosures

JM declares that she has received research funding from Soleno Therapeutics, Harmony Biosciences, and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals. JM is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Chelsea Zimmerman, MD

Clinical Physician

Pediatric Endocrinology

Endocrinology and Metabolism of East Alabama

Opelika

AL

Disclosures

CZ declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Jennifer Miller and Dr Chelsea Zimmerman would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Arlan Rosenbloom and Dr Paul Hiers, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

AR is an author of a number of references cited in this topic. Unfortunately, we have since been made aware that AR is deceased. PH declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Philip Zeitler, MD, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Science

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Aurora

CO

Disclosures

PZ declares that he has no competing interests.

Julian P. Hamilton-Shield, MB, ChB, MD(Bristol), MRCP, FRCPCH, FRCPCH

Professor

Diabetes and Metabolic Endocrinology

School of Clinical Sciences

University of Bristol

UK

Disclosures

In the past, JPHS received speaking honoraria from Sanofi-Aventis, Roche, Abbott, Novo Nordisk, and Nutricia. None of these talks were directly pertinent to the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Kristen Nadeau, MD

Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Aurora

CO

Disclosures

KN declares that she has no competing interests.

Dennis Styne, MD

Professor of Pediatrics

Rumsey Chair of Pediatric Endocrinology

University of California

Sacramento

CA

Disclosures

DS declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Type 2 diabetes in children images
  • Differentials

    • Impaired glucose tolerance
    • Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)
    • Monogenic diabetes: maturity-onset diabetes of the young
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Standards of care in diabetes - 2025
    • Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents​​
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Diabetes type 2: should I take insulin?

    Diabetes type 2: what treatments work?

    More Patient information
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