A 5-year U.S. national survey (2016–2020) found that childhood type 2 diabetes remained rare—0.5% ever diagnosed and 0.4% current—with the highest early-childhood rate at 0.082% in 2018. Disease severity was tied to community factors such as access to libraries, meal programs, social support, and walkable neighborhoods. Assistance program participation and neighborhood issues slightly increased from 2019 to 2020. The study used de-identified NSCH data from 174,551 children and reported no external funding. Authors noted the need to address food access and quality in diabetes prevention and called for further research on early-life environmental risks.

Source: Pediatric Research