Global cases of type 2 diabetes in young people are on the rise, study reveals

Early onset type 2 diabetes is a growing global health problem in adolescents and young adults, latest research published in the British Medical Journal identifies.

Cases of type 2 diabetes amongst young people are particularly high in countries with a low and middle sociodemographic index, new data shows.

Participants aged between 15 and 39-years-old from 204 countries were studied during the systematic analysis, which was conducted between 1990 and 2019.

The researchers have found that age standardised incidence rate amongst the participants increased from 117.22 in 1990 to 183.36 in 2019.

Meanwhile, the age standardised disability adjusted life years (DALY) rate increased from 106.34 in 1990 to 149.61 in 2019, the study has reported.

The age standardised mortality rate amongst the participants increased from 0.74 in 1990 to 0.77 in 2019, the research has revealed.

According to the academics, women generally had higher mortality and DALY rates than men below the age of 30.

The findings said: “The main attributable risk factor for DALY for early onset type 2 diabetes was high body mass index in all regions by sociodemographic index.

“The proportional contribution of other risk factors varied across regions, however, with higher proportions of ambient particulate air pollution and smoking in countries with a high sociodemographic index and higher proportions of household air pollution from solid fuels and a diet low in fruit in countries with a low sociodemographic index.”

The research study is available here.

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