An individual diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 30 could have their life expectancy cut by up to 14 years, according to an international team of researchers. Even people who do not develop the condition until later in life -- with a diagnosis at age 50 years -- could see their life expectancy fall by up to six years, an analysis of data from 19 high-income countries found. The researchers say the findings, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, highlight the urgent need to develop and implement interventions that prevent or delay onset of diabetes, especially as the prevalence of diabetes among younger adults is rising globally.
Increasing levels of obesity, poor diet and increased sedentary behaviour are driving a rapid rise in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide. In 2021, 537 million adults were estimated to have diabetes worldwide, with an increasing number diagnosed at younger ages.