Purpose of review: This review aims to discuss the burden of type 2 diabetes in youth and summarize the studies that have utilized noninvasive techniques to assess early vascular disease in youth with type 2 diabetes.
Recent findings: Noninvasive imaging modalities provide researchers with tools to investigate the vasculature in adolescents with type 2 diabetes. The data published to date consistently show adolescents with type 2 diabetes have greater vascular thickness and stiffness and worse endothelial function compared to their obese and lean peers. As the prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase adolescent youth, there is concern adolescents with type 2 diabetes are at risk to develop early onset cardiovascular disease and complications. Future studies need to address treatments that have the potential to improve or reverse vascular dysfunction and decrease the rate of cardiovascular disease and complications.
Keywords: Adolescents; Carotid artery; Endothelial function; Type 2 diabetes; Vascular.