Metabolic health during puberty in youth at risk for type 2 diabetes
Official title: Metabolic Health during Puberty: the Healthy Start Study
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11374938 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows children through puberty to understand how metabolism and glucose control change, with the goal of preventing youth-onset type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $699,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133235-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374938 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents transitioning through puberty who are at risk for or have obesity-related metabolic changes.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience diabetes progression despite existing risk factors.
What this research studies
The study extends a long-running group of children from the Healthy Start cohort to track metabolic health as they move through puberty. It will look at how puberty-related insulin resistance and β-cell function affect the development of type 2 diabetes in at-risk youth. Researchers will collect health data, blood samples, and detailed information about lifestyle and environment over several years. The goal is to identify key factors in early puberty that predict diabetes risk so we can prevent it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide early prevention strategies to reduce the risk of youth-onset type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous longitudinal work has highlighted puberty as a critical window, but gaps remain that this study aims to fill with extended follow-up.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dabelea, Dana — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Dabelea, Dana
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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.