Vascular disease in paediatric type 2 diabetes: the state of the art.

Type 2 diabetes is an emerging problem in the paediatric population. Paediatricians and paediatric endocrinologists are struggling with how to best assess, predict and treat cardiovascular risk factors in these patients. There is a notable lack of consensus in how to proceed, even among experts in the field. There are very limited data from quality trials in established paediatric type 2 diabetes. We address the available information regarding traditional and non-traditional indices of cardiovascular risk, including examination findings, biochemical markers and non-invasive imaging modalities. We discuss the utility and pitfalls of applying knowledge gained in adult medicine to the paediatric population. Potential treatment strategies are reviewed, including the currently available pharmaceutical options, with the acknowledgement that there are few drugs formally approved in the paediatric population.