Diabetes Incidence Increased by 56.4% in Adolescents and Young Adults

Data from the CDC suggests that, of the 37 million people in the United States with diabetes, 90–95% have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Historically, T2D is more likely to develop in adults over 45; however, recent data suggest that an increasing rate of children, adolescents, and young adults are developing T2D. A recent study in BMJ set out to determine the global burden of T2D in adolescents and young adults by conducting a systematic analysis using data from 1990 to 2019, finding a roughly 56.4% increase in the incidence rate.

Researchers used data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study and focused on participants between 15 and 39. Participants spanned 204 countries and territories.

According to the publication, in 2019, the incidence rate of T2D was approximately 183.36 T2D patients per 100,000 individuals. This marked a significant increase from the 1990 incidence rate of 117.22 per 100,000 people.

In addition to the incidence rate, researchers calculated the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rate. To calculate the DALY rate, researchers added the number of years lived with a disability to the number of years lost. In 2019, the DALY rate was 106.34 years per 100,000 individuals. By 2019, that number had increased to 149.61 years per 100,000 individuals.

Researchers attributed the rise in incidence rates to 15 risk factors over three categories, including behavioral, environmental, and metabolic factors. Behavioral risk factors included diets low in fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains; diets high in red meat and sweetened beverages; low physical activity; smoking; and secondhand smoking. Environmental factors included extreme temperatures — low and high — household air pollution, and pollution from ambient particulate matter. Finally, metabolic factors included high body mass index.

Researchers also collected information on the mortality rate per 100,000 people. In 1990, the mortality rate was 0.74. Despite the increased incidence rate in 2019, the mortality rate had a minimal increase, at 0.77. This could partially be attributed to advancements in diabetes care and management, such as continuous glucose monitoring, patient care platforms, and prevention campaigns.

Overall, investigators in the publication concluded, “early-onset type 2 diabetes is a growing global health problem in adolescents and young adults, especially in countries with a low-middle and middle sociodemographic index. A greater disease burden in women aged <30 years was found. Specific measures are needed in countries with different levels of socioeconomic development because of the variable attributable risk factors for type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults.”