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A recent study from the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine has uncovered alarming findings: people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 40 have a mortality risk nearly four times higher than the general population. Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the study highlights the disproportionate impact of early-onset type 2 diabetes compared to diagnoses later in life.
Researchers assessed over 4,500 participants in the UK Prospective Diabetes Study, focusing on individuals aged 25 to 65 diagnosed with diabetes over a 30-year period. Their findings reveal that while adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes later in life also face an elevated risk of death—about one-and-a-half times higher than the general population—those diagnosed before 40 experience significantly worse outcomes.
The increased mortality rate in younger adults is linked to prolonged exposure to elevated blood glucose levels. This exposure is thought to accelerate the deterioration of pancreatic β-cell function, leading to more severe complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and microvascular complications like eye damage. According to the study, younger adults also struggle with poorer long-term blood sugar control, further compounding their risk.
“Over the past 30 years, the number of young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has increased markedly worldwide,” said Professor Amanda Adler, co-author and expert in diabetic medicine at the University of Oxford. “Evidence suggests that younger-onset type 2 diabetes may be more aggressive, requiring proactive and long-term management.”
Lead author Dr. Beryl Lin, from the University of Sydney and Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine, stressed the need for targeted clinical trials to develop treatments tailored to young adults. “Our data supports the need to identify young adults early and ensure they receive high-quality care throughout their lives,” Dr. Lin said. “We urgently need new treatments to prevent or delay complications like kidney and heart disease, and ultimately reduce the risk of premature death.”
With younger individuals facing both a greater risk of complications and an extended lifetime living with diabetes, the study underscores the importance of early intervention and personalized care for this vulnerable group. The researchers call for a deeper understanding of why early-onset diabetes carries such a severe prognosis and how healthcare systems can better address the long-term challenges these individuals face.
The full study, titled Younger-Onset Compared with Later-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: An Analysis of the UK Prospective Diabetes Study, is available in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Reference:
Beryl Lin et al., Younger-onset compared with later-onset type 2 diabetes: an analysis of the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) with up to 30 years of follow-up (UKPDS 92), The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00242-0
