Poor Control of Blood Glucose, Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Younger Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This study investigated the awareness, treatment, and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), lifestyle factors, and cardiometabolic parameters according to age groups among patients with T2DM. Data of 1507 patients with T2DM aged ≥35 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013–2015) were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare the awareness, treatment, and control rate of T2DM and lifestyle and cardiometabolic parameters according to age groups. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for lack of awareness about and non-treatment of T2DM, as well as poor glycemic control, were significantly increased with younger age in both men and women. ORs for heavy drinkers and current smokers also significantly increased with younger age in both men and women. The adjusted ORs for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (≥100 mg/dL), hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL), and obesity significantly increased with younger age in men, but not in women. Among Korean adults with T2DM, awareness, treatment, and control rates of the condition were poorer in younger patients than in older patients. Education regarding the control of glycemia, cardiovascular risk factors, and improvement of lifestyles should be reinforced among younger-aged adults for the long-term management of T2DM.