Type 2 diabetes is rising among women in their 20s in England, with experts warning of a worrying increase since the Covid pandemic
The rise has largely occurred since the pandemic and is closely linked to increasing obesity levels, according to an analysis of NHS data from 2011 to 2024
The condition is serious and can lead to severe complications, including heart attacks and strokes
Diabetes UK said it tends to be more aggressive when it develops at a younger age, raising the risk of serious complications and shorter lives
The charity said early diagnosis is vital for people at risk to help prevent long-term organ damage
The condition can sometimes be put into remission through healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight, without relying on glucose-lowering medicines
Researchers said newer obesity treatments, including GLP-1 injections and pills, may also help alongside healthy eating advice
About 90 per cent of the six million people living with diabetes in the UK have type 2 rather than type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes
The risk increases with age, and older adults still account for the largest proportion of new diagnoses
However, NHS England estimates suggest that 12,000 people under 30 are now living with the condition, with women making up more of the younger cases
Common symptoms include feeling very tired, urinating more often than usual and feeling thirsty all the time
Researchers at Imperial College London analysed NHS data from the English National Diabetes Audit to examine trends over time
The figures showed that cases are falling slightly among older adults, who still account for the largest share of new diagnoses
However, diagnoses are increasing rapidly among people under 40, with some of the sharpest rises among women aged 20 to 29
Body mass index at diagnosis has also been rising more quickly among younger adults than in older age groups, pointing to obesity as a likely factor
Body mass index, or BMI, is a measure of obesity based on a person’s height and weight
Separate NHS data for England shows obesity rates have worsened since the pandemic, with nearly one in three people now affected
The largest increases over time have been among younger adults
Between 2019 and 2025, new obesity cases rose by 16 per cent among people aged 20 to 29 and by almost 20 per cent among those aged 30 to 39
Rates fell among adults aged 60 to 79 over the same period
Lead researcher Dr Shivani Misra said: “We think that the earlier onset of severe obesity in young people is increasing their type 2 diabetes risk in early life and pulling down their age at diagnosis
“This is really worrying given the poor health outcomes from early-onset type 2 diabetes.”
Misra said much of the discussion about rising rates among younger people had focused on ethnic minority groups, which have traditionally been considered at higher risk
However, the new data suggests the trend extends well beyond those communities
She added: “We now see that incidence is also increasing in white populations too, showing that this public health challenge is broadening across the generations.”
Diabetes UK said better follow-up care is also needed for mums-to-be diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy because it raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after childbirth
Some studies have suggested that the risk of developing the condition may also increase after being ill with Covid, although the evidence remains inconclusive
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