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DIAGNOSES of type 2 diabetes have risen at an 'alarming' rate in people under 40, scientists say. Poor diets and obesity are largely to blame for the 39 per cent rise, 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.

Authors said “drastic changes” to the food people eat and the environments they live in over the last 25 years are taking their toll. "We are bombarded by adverts for cheaper, unhealthy food,” they wrote. “The foods on our shelves are increasingly high in fat, salt and sugar, and rising costs are pushing a healthy diet out of reach for millions.



“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.

” Cases of type 2 diabetes among all under-40s have risen by more than 47,000 since 2016/17, according to the study. This amounts to an increase of 39 per cent, compared to a rise of 25 per cent for those over the age of 40. “We estimate nearly 168,000 people under the age of 40 .

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