Prediabetes Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People Aged 10-24 Years: Results from The Next Generation Youth Wellbeing Study — The Association Specialists
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  3. Prediabetes Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People Aged 10-24 Years: Results from The Next Generation Youth Wellbeing Study

Prediabetes Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People Aged 10-24 Years: Results from The Next Generation Youth Wellbeing Study (23771)

Mahamudul Hasan 1 , Tabassum Rahman 1 , Berhe Sahle 1 , Alison Gibberd 1 , Sandra Eades 1
  1. Melbourne School of population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia

Background:

Prediabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but below the threshold for diabetes. Prediabetes can progress to Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and is associated with an increased risk of complications, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, neuropathy, and eye and kidney disease. Rising obesity rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Aboriginal) young people are increasing the number of individuals at risk of developing prediabetes.

Methods:

We analysed HbA1c measurement data from a clinical survey of Aboriginal young people aged 10–24 years across rural, remote, and urban areas in Central Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales, as part of the Next Generation Youth Well-being Study. We also examined relevant anthropometric and metabolic markers. HbA1c values were categorised according to the American Diabetes Association guidelines as normal (<5.7%), prediabetes (5.7%–6.4%), and diabetes (≥6.5%).

Results:

Of the 1048 young people participating in the survey, 587 without diabetes had HbA1c measured (357 females and 230 males). Overall, 72% of young people had a normal HbA1c level (<5.7%), 28% were in the prediabetes range (5.7%–6.4%), and only 3 young people had an HbA1c level above 6.5%. The proportion of young people having prediabetes was lower among 16-24-year-olds (23%) compared to 10–14-year-olds (33%). Participants with a low waist-to-height ratio (WHtR <0.5) were 44% less likely to have prediabetes than participants with a high WHtR (WHtR ≥0.5, adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44,0.73). Similarly, participants with a normal Body Mass Index were 55% less likely to have prediabetes than participants with overweight or obesity (aPR 0.45, 95% CI 0.48-0.83).

Conclusion:

Most participants in our study had normal HbA1c levels; however, over one in four had prediabetes. Early detection and management of prediabetes, together with culturally appropriate interventions targeting obesity, may delay or reduce progression to T2DM among Aboriginal young people.