Cases of younger people being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the UK are rising to ‘alarming levels’, a charity has warned.
Type 2 diabetes has historically been associated with older people, but cases among under 40s have been on the rise in recent years and are now increasing at a faster rate than among over 40s. A new report, published by Diabetes UK for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week (which took place May 20-26), reveals there was an almost 40% increase in the number of people under the age of 40 living with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes between 2016-17 and 2022-23. The charity estimates there are now almost 168,000 people under 40 with the condition in the UK, a rise of more than 47,000 since 2016-17, and says the UK Government faces ‘a generational opportunity’ to tackle the crisis with a range of measures, including addressing the factors causing obesity and health inequalities.
Furthermore, many thousands more young adults are likely to be living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes: a recent report by the Office for National Statistics estimated that 50% of those aged 16-44 with Type 2 diabetes had not yet received a diagnosis.
As part of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, Diabetes UK is urging people to check their risk of the condition by using the charity’s free, online Know Your Risk tool.
