How type 2 diabetes develops in children and teens during puberty
Illuminating the path(ophysiology) to development of youth-onset type 2 diabetes (PATH-NC)
['FUNDING_U01'] · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11290727
Looking at how puberty, obesity, and social and behavioral factors affect insulin and beta-cell health in children and teens at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11290727 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow children and adolescents through puberty and collect health measurements like blood sugar, insulin function, weight, and questionnaires about behavior and social context. The project uses the DISCOVERY cohort framework to track who stays normoglycemic, who develops prediabetes, and who progresses to youth-onset type 2 diabetes. Investigators will compare groups over time to map the timeline of changes in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function and to identify modifiable risk factors. The goal is to link clinical tests and lifestyle or social factors to early warning signs of disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and teens around the time of puberty, especially those with overweight/obesity or a family history of type 2 diabetes, who can attend clinic visits and provide blood samples and questionnaire information.
Not a fit: Adults, children outside the puberty window, or those with long-standing type 2 diabetes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify early warning signs and targets for prevention so clinicians can better prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in young people.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cohort studies have linked obesity and puberty to higher youth T2D risk, but detailed timelines and mechanisms remain incomplete, so this builds on prior work while addressing new gaps.
Where this research is happening
WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES
- WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JENSEN, ELIZABETH T — WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: JENSEN, ELIZABETH T
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus