Cases of younger people with Type 2 diabetes rise in Oxfordshire
There's been an increase of 39% in people under the age of 40 getting a diagnosis.
Last updated 23rd May 2024
There has been a 39% rise in cases of diabetes among the under-40s, with poor diets and obesity largely to blame, a report suggests.
The study, from Diabetes UK, said people face a more aggressive and acute form of diabetes when it develops at a younger age, with thousands of people and children living undiagnosed with the condition across the country.
The report argues "drastic changes" over the last 25 years to the food people eat and the environments they live in are taking their toll as we're bombarded by adverts for cheaper, unhealthy food according to the study.
Foods increasingly high in fat, salt and sugar, and rising costs are pushing a healthy diet out of reach for millions.
Diabetes UK say "These conditions, combined with genetic factors and stark inequalities, are driving rising levels of obesity, which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
"When type 2 diabetes develops at a younger age, defined here as under 40, it is more acute and aggressive.
"It is also associated with an increased risk of more rapid onset of devastating complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, sight loss and even an early death."
The report's authors said cases of type 2 among all under-40s have risen by more than 47,000 since 2016/17, an increase of 39%, compared to a rise of 25% for those over 40.
"We estimate nearly 168,000 people under the age of 40 are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK, with nearly 150,000 people under 40 diagnosed in England alone."
Thousands more are living with the condition undiagnosed, with analysis suggesting half of people aged 16 to 44 with type 2 diabetes are unaware they have it.
The report said the causes of diabetes can be complex, but younger people who are obese have greater risks than older age groups.
Phaedra Perry, Head of Diabetes UK in our region says;
“Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in people under 40 are rising to alarming levels here and across the UK. It’s a damning indictment of the barriers that many of us face to living a healthy life, where good food is affordable, and exercise isn't a luxury."
Diabetes is also listed as a secondary condition for hundreds of thousands more people who are currently unable to work, the study said.
Diabetes UK said the number of people living with diabetes in the UK now tops 5.6 million.
It is calling for the Government to "put the building blocks of health in place for every child and young person, including access to green space, affordable, healthy food, and quality housing".
It called for planned restrictions on junk food advertising to be introduced and for further work to expand the sugar tax on soft drinks.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "Obesity leads to a range of serious health conditions including type 2 diabetes, so it's concerning but not surprising that we're seeing an increase in the condition as obesity levels rise.
"The NHS has invested significantly in services to help people prevent, manage and, in some cases, reverse type 2 diabetes, including specific support for people under the age of 40 - but it is clear that reversing this trend requires concerted action across industry, government and society to tackle obesity."
As part of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, Diabetes UK is urging people to check their risk of the condition by using the charity’s free, online Know Your Risk tool.