Young women in England see sharp rise in type 2 diabetes diagnoses, study finds

Data from the English National Diabetes Audit spanning 2011-2024 reveal that while type 2 diabetes prevalence fell among adults aged 60-79, it climbed among individuals younger than 40, with the steepest increase observed in white, Asian and Black women in their 20s and white women in their 30s. The study, conducted by Imperial College London researchers and published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, underscores a shift away from the traditional age-based distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Endocrinologists in Germany report comparable surges in youth diagnoses, attributing the rise primarily to sedentary habits and high-calorie diets that drive obesity. Health advocates warn that early-onset type 2 diabetes can progress more aggressively, prompting calls for broader screening, sugar taxes, and school-based nutrition and exercise programs. Experts also note that current diagnostic practices may miss cases in women, suggesting wider use of glucose tolerance and HbA1c tests despite cost and insurance barriers.