A group of 13- to 21-year-olds (healthy weight = 12, healthy obese = 10, T2DM = 12) wore a continuous glucose monitor and step activity monitor for 5 days.
Physical activity was similar among groups (6551 ± 401 steps/d), but aerobic fitness (peak rate of oxygen consumption) was lower (P < .05) in T2DM (15.6 ± 1.8 mL/kg/min) than either healthy weight (26.2 ± 2.2) or healthy obese (24.4 ± 2.5). MAGE (mg/dL) was higher (P < .01) in T2DM (82 ± 10) vs healthy obese (33 ± 3) and healthy weight (30 ± 3). Average glucose followed a similar pattern as MAGE. Oxidized low density lipoprotein was higher (P < .05) in T2DM (70.3 ± 5.0 U/L) and healthy obese (58.1 ± 3.8) than healthy weight (48.4 ± 2) and positively correlated with MAGE (r = 0.77). Other stress markers that were both elevated in T2DM and correlated with MAGE included E-selectin (r = 0.50), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (r = 0.35), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.52); soluble receptor for advanced glycosylation end product was lower in T2DM and inversely correlated with MAGE (r = −0.38).
MAGE is highest in obese youth with T2DM. The associations between MAGE and oxidative stress markers support the proposed contribution of glycemic variability to risk for future cardiovascular disease.