Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
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To discuss the initial clinical manifestations and management of 8 obese African American children and adolescents who presented with a severe hyper-osmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) and were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), except for one who most likely had type 1 DM. ⋯ The incidence of obesity and type 2 DM in children and adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate. Many patients previously undiagnosed with type 2 DM may indeed present with HHS. Because experience and published literature regarding HHS in pediatric patients are meager, this is a new challenge for physicians. Mortality and morbidity are high in this group of patients, and a high index of suspicion and awareness of this condition by physicians are warranted.