Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was once perceived as a disease of the elderly but is increasingly diagnosed in younger people.
A study published in ‘The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology’ emphasizes the critical need for interventions to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes, especially considering the growing incidence of the disease among young adults worldwide. Factors such as rising obesity rates, poor dietary choices, and sedentary lifestyles contribute to the increasing number of T2DM cases. Each additional decade of living with T2DM shortens life expectancy by about 3.5 years. It is shown that people diagnosed with T2DM at age 30 live, on average, 14 years less than their peers without diabetes. In contrast, those diagnosed with T2DM at age 50 have a life expectancy shorter by six years.
The strongest associations with earlier diabetes diagnosis were cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. Individuals who develop T2DM at a younger age may have a potentially more aggressive disease course and require more intensive glucose-lowering treatment and lower therapeutic targets than older individuals. This applies not only to glucose control but also to intensive management of cardiovascular risk factors.
The findings indicate that preventing the development of diabetes is crucial, particularly in younger age groups. Early detection of diabetes through screening, followed by intensive glycemic management, can help prevent long-term complications.
Based on: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00255-3.