More women in their 20s are getting type 2 diabetes
A new analysis of NHS data reveals a concerning rise in type 2 diabetes among women in their 20s in England. Experts link this trend to increasing obesity levels and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis to prevent long-term health complications.
Why it matters
The trend suggests a shift in the demographic profile of chronic disease, highlighting the urgent need for public health interventions regarding obesity and metabolic health in younger populations.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Michelle Roberts Digital health editor Getty Images England is seeing a "worrying increase" in young women in their 20s developing type 2 diabetes, experts at Imperial College London have warned.
The rise has largely occurred since the Covid pandemic and is closely linked to increasing obesity levels, according to an analysis of NHS data from 2011 to 2024 .
Type 2 diabetes is serious, and can lead to severe complications, such as heart attacks and strokes.
When it develops at a younger age, the disease tends to be more aggressive, raising the risk of devastating complications and cutting lives short, according to Diabetes UK.
It is vital that those at risk are diagnosed early to prevent long-term organ damage, the charity says.
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