Rates of type 2 diabetes are rising faster in young people than in those over 40, according to "alarming" and "troubling" data revealed by Diabetes UK.
This rise of 23% in five years was accelerated by the growing number of obese or overweight children and young adults in the UK, which has the third highest obesity rate in Europe. Often linked with being overweight and inactive, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at a young age can lead to more complications like kidney and heart disease, according to Diabetes UK.
The charity's chief executive, Chris Askew, said the "analysis confirms an incredibly troubling growing trend, underlining how serious health conditions related to obesity are becoming more and more prevalent in a younger demographic". But two-thirds of adults under 40 don't know the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, or how to find out their risk of developing the condition.
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More than 4m people in the UK have the common condition, which causes the level of sugar in the blood to become too high, potentially leading to health problems like heart disease and stroke, or loss of feeling and vision, according to the NHS. Roughly 850,000 people in the UK are currently living with type 2 diabetes but are yet to be diagnosed, Diabetes UK said.
To catch it early, you need to know what signs to look out for. Each person is different, but the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include changes to thirst, toilet habits and energy. According to the NHS, symptoms include:
- peeing more than usual, particularly at night
- feeling thirsty all the time
- feeling very tired
- losing weight without trying to
- itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
- cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
- blurred vision
Chris Askew from Diabetes UK said: "While it's important to remember that type 2 diabetes is a complex condition with multiple other risk factors, such as genetics, family history and ethnicity, these statistics should serve as a serious warning to policymakers and our NHS.
"They mark a shift from what we've seen historically with type 2 diabetes and underline why we've been calling on the government to press ahead with evidence-based policies aimed at improving the health of our nation and addressing the stark health inequalities that exist in parts of the UK."
He added: "If you're under 40, you’re not immune to type 2 diabetes. It is vital that you check your risk now and that individuals, no matter what their age or background, are given the opportunity to access support to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes."
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