Neuroendocrine and biobehavioral influences on diabetes in youth

Abstract

Childhood and adolescence are marked by continuous physical and emotional development; these developmental stages also mark common periods when youth may be diagnosed with diabetes. This chapter explores multiple neuroendocrine and biobehavioral factors related to the onset and early progression of both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The development of T1D and T2D is multifactorial, with influences varying from genetics to the environment to behavior. Additionally, these influences may interact to affect the onset and progression of diabetes in different ways, at different times during childhood and adolescence. In this chapter, we describe the incidence and prevalence of T1D and T2D in youth, followed by sections detailing the following factors related to the onset and disease progression: genetics, environmental and pregnancy-related factors, stress and trauma, family history and family involvement, diet- and exercise-related lifestyle behaviors, the physical and psychosocial effects of puberty, depressive symptoms, and adaptation to treatments.