PEOPLE diagnosed with a common ‘silent killer’ before the age of 40 are nearly four times more likely to die young, experts have warned.
That’s compared to the general population, according to a new study by scientists at the University of Oxford.
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They focused on early-onset type 2 diabetes – a condition increasing in young people in the UK.
The study assessed whether complications and mortality rates differ for young-onset type 2 diabetes compared with those who are diagnosed at an older age.
It found while adults with later-onset type 2 diabetes have a one-and-a-half times higher risk of death compared with the general population, this was much lower than the increased risk of death in people who are diagnosed at a younger age.
Amanda Adler, co-author and professor of diabetic medicine and health policy at the University of Oxford said: “Over the past 30 years, the number of young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has increased markedly worldwide.
“Evidence to date suggests that younger-onset type 2 diabetes, characterised by earlier and longer exposure to high levels of blood glucose, may be more aggressive than later onset disease.
“This might include faster deterioration in β-cell function – the cells in the pancreas that produce and release insulin – and a greater risk of complications such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.”
The researchers analysed the landmark UK Prospective Diabetes Study, which tracked 4,550 participants aged 25 to 65 who were nearly diagnosed with diabetes, over a 30-year period.
They found people who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a younger age had a higher risk of death, and a higher rate of diabetes-related complications, particularly microvascular disease such as eye damage and kidney failure.
A lower age of diagnosis was also associated with persistently poorer blood sugar control.
Lead author of the study Dr Beryl Lin from the University of Sydney and Honorary Research Associate at the University of Oxford said the data supports the need to proactively identify young adults with type 2 diabetes and provide high-quality care over their lifetimes.
She added: “We urgently need clinical trials focused on young people to develop tailored treatments which prevent or delay complications, like kidney and heart disease, and crucially, reduce the risk of premature death.”
The researchers warn that earlier and longer lifetime exposure to high blood sugar in young adults with type 2 diabetes may further increase the risk of complications and shorten life expectancy.
Dr Lin said: “We particularly need to understand why young adults with type 2 diabetes suffer greater risk of complications, and how we can identify and help this vulnerable group of people who have to live with diabetes for the rest of their lives.”
Globally, the International Diabetes Federation estimates more than 75million people aged 20-39 live with type 2 diabetes.
In 2021-22, there were 139,255 people under 40 with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales, which is 4.8 per cent of all type 2 diabetes cases under 80.
This is a 18.7 per cent increase since 2017-18, which is steeper than the 11.3 per cent increase for those aged 40–79.
Between 2016-17 and 2022-23, the number of people under 40 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK increased by 40 per cent.
This is a faster rate of increase than among people over 40.
Top risk factors
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cells don’t react to insulin.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes, which causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce the hormone insulin.
It affects around 344,000 people in the UK.
Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is far more common, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the 4.4million adults with diabetes.
It occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells don’t react to it properly.
There are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes.
But you may be at higher risk of type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese, eat unhealthily, have a family history of the condition, take certain medications for a long time, have high blood pressure, and have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
People of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin are also at increased risk.
Source: NHS and Diabetes UK
This causes glucose to build up in the blood instead of being used for energy.
Symptoms to watch for include feeling very thirsty, peeing more often than normal, feeling very tired, weight loss, slow to heal cuts or ulcers, frequent bouts of thrush and blurred vision.
Being overweight or obese, especially around the waist, can make the body resistant to insulin.
Obesity accounts for 80–85 per cent of the overall risk for developing type 2 diabetes
A low activity level can also exacerbate insulin resistance. Physical activity helps control weight, uses up glucose as energy, and makes cells more sensitive to insulin.
If a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes, your risk of developing it increases.
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes also increases as you get older.
People who smoke are 30 per cent to 40 per cent more likely to develop diabetes than those who don’t smoke.
And drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
How to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes
According to Diabetes UK, there are a few diet tweaks you can make to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes:
- Choose drinks without added sugar – skip out the sugar in your tea and coffee and stay away from fizzy and energy drinks
- Eat whole grains such as brown rice, wholewheat pasta, wholemeal flour, wholegrain bread and oats instead of refined carbs
- Cut down on red and processed meat like bacon, ham, sausages, pork, beef and lamb
- Eat plenty of fruit and veg – apples, grapes, berries, and green leafy veg such as spinach, kale, watercress, and rocket have been associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
- Have unsweetened yoghurt and cheese
- Cut down on booze – and have a few days a week with none at all
- Have healthy snacks like unsweetened yoghurt, unsalted nuts, seeds and fruit and veg
- Eat healthy fats included in nuts, seeds, avocados and olive oil
- Cut down on salt
- Get your vitamins and minerals from food instead of tablets
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