Sergio M. Aymat Sánchez-Vahamonde, MS-IV
Maillim I. Ortiz López, MS-IV
Gabriel Camareno, MS-IV
Claudia Ramirez, MS-IV
Nicole Polish, MS-II
Sebastián Morales, MS-II
Daniela Matinez, MS-IV
Daniel Del Toro, MS-IV
Bárbara L. Riestra Candelaria, PhD

Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Introduction

Pediatric diabetes (PD) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, primarily manifesting as Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) due to autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells or Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) driven by insulin resistance. The prevalence of PD and obesity is rising globally, with a significant increase in both T2DM and obesity reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on PD and pediatric obesity in Puerto Rico is unknown.

Methods

This cross-sectional study will assess the prevalence of T1DM, T2DM, and obesity among pediatric patients at the CUMIC clinic in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Data is collected from medical records, including diagnosis/diabetes-type, sex, age, weight/BMI, and HbA1c. Data is stored in a password-protected Excel sheet, accessible only to study investigators, with all patient identifiers removed.

Results

Analysis of over 400 patient records has revealed a mean age, BMI, and HbA1c of 14.42 years, 23.68, and 6.28, respectively. Among the cohort, 4% were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, 3% with Type 2 diabetes, and 41% were classified as obese. Diabetic patients exhibited a significantly higher mean BMI of 27.40 (p = 0.018) and an elevated mean HbA1c of 7.74 (p = 0.0071) compared to the overall population in the clinic. Obese patients had a markedly higher mean BMI of 29.45 (p < 0.0001) with a mean HbA1c of 5.91, which did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.62).

Conclusion

The data highlight a significant prevalence of obesity and a concerning presence of both T1DM and T2DM among pediatric patients. The significantly higher BMI and HbA1c levels in diabetic patients underline the potential metabolic burden in this population. The high prevalence of obesity, coupled with an elevated but non-significant increase in HbA1c, may indicate a growing risk for future diabetes. To better understand these relationships and their implications, further data collection is necessary.

IRB Approval Number

2024-06, Universidad Central del Caribe