There has been a 39 per cent 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.
"We are bombarded by adverts for cheaper, unhealthy food," it said. "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." 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 per cent, compared to a rise of 25 per cent 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 Engl.