More women in their 20s are getting type 2 diabetes

Key Points:

• Experts at Imperial College London warn of a significant rise in type 2 diabetes among young women in their 20s in England, largely linked to increasing obesity levels since the Covid pandemic.
• Analysis of NHS data from 2011 to 2024 shows type 2 diabetes cases decreasing slightly in older adults but rising rapidly in people under 40, with women aged 20 to 29 experiencing some of the sharpest increases.
• Early-onset type 2 diabetes tends to be more aggressive, increasing risks of severe complications like heart attacks and strokes, and cutting lives short, making early diagnosis and intervention critical.
• The rise in type 2 diabetes among younger adults correlates with worsening obesity rates, which have increased notably in people aged 20-39 since 2019, while rates have fallen among older adults.
• Researchers suggest that newer obesity treatments, such as GLP-1 medications, alongside healthy diet and lifestyle changes, could help manage and potentially remit type 2 diabetes in younger populations.