Comparison of β-Cell Function Between Overweight/Obese Adults and Adolescents Across the Spectrum of Glycemia

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes is a growing health problem among both adults and adolescents. To better understand the differences in the pathogenesis of diabetes between these groups, we examined differences in β-cell function along the spectrum of glucose tolerance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We evaluated 89 adults and 50 adolescents with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), dysglycemia, or type 2 diabetes. Oral glucose tolerance test results were used for C-peptide and insulin/glucose minimal modeling. Model-derived and direct measures of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity were compared across glycemic stages and between age-groups at each stage. RESULTS: In adolescents with dysglycemia, there was marked insulin resistance (insulin sensitivity index: adolescents, median [interquartile range] 1.8 [1.1–2.4] × 10(−4); adults, 5.0 [2.3–9.9]; P = 0.01). The nature of β-cell dysfunction across stages of dysglycemia differed between the groups. We observed higher levels of secretion among adolescents than adults (total insulin secretion: NGT, 143 [103–284] × 10(−9)/min adolescent vs. 106 [71–127], P = 0.001); adults showed stepwise impairments in static insulin secretion (NGT, 7.5 [4.0–10.3] × 10(−9)/min; dysglycemia, 5.0 [2.3–9.9]; type 2 diabetes, 0.7 [0.1–2.45]; P = 0.003), whereas adolescents showed diabetes-related impairment in dynamic secretion (NGT, 1,905 [1,630–3,913] × 10(−9); dysglycemia, 2,703 [1,323–3,637]; type 2 diabetes, 1,189 [269–1,410]; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adults and adolescents differ in the underlying defects leading to dysglycemia, and in the nature of β-cell dysfunction across stages of dysglycemia. These results may suggest different approaches to diabetes prevention in youths versus adults.