People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 40 have a death rate four times higher than the general UK population, a study found.
Those with early-onset disease also had a greater risk of complications such as blindness, limb amputation and kidney failure.
Researchers from the University of Oxford say their findings highlight the need to improve care for these patients and develop new drugs that can reduce harm.
They examined data on 4,550 newly diagnosed diabetics aged 25 to 65 over a period of up to 30 years.
Analysis revealed that adults with later-onset type 2 diabetes have a one-and-a-half times higher risk of death compared with the general population.
Analysis revealed that adults with later-onset type 2 diabetes have a one-and-a-half times higher risk of death compared with the general population (file image)
Researchers from the University of Oxford say their findings highlight the need to improve care for these patients and develop new drugs that can reduce harm (file image)
But this climbs to four times higher among those diagnosed at an earlier age, when the disease is typically more aggressive and has longer to do damage.
People diagnosed before the age of 40 also had a higher rate of diabetes-related complications, particularly microvascular disease such as eye damage and kidney failure.
And a lower age of diagnosis was also associated with persistently poorer blood sugar control.
Professor Amanda Adler, co-author of the study, said: ‘Over the past 30 years, the number of young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has increased markedly worldwide.
‘Evidence to date suggests that younger-onset type 2 diabetes, characterised by earlier and longer exposure to high levels of blood glucose, may be more aggressive than later onset disease.’
This might include faster deterioration in beta-cell function – the cells in the pancreas that produce and release insulin – and a greater risk of complications such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.
‘Lead author Dr Beryl Lin said: ‘Our data supports the need to proactively identify young adults with type 2 diabetes and provide high-quality care over their lifetimes.
‘We urgently need clinical trials focused on young people to develop tailored treatments which prevent or delay complications, like kidney and heart disease, and crucially, reduce the risk of premature death.’
People diagnosed before the age of 40 also had a higher rate of diabetes-related complications, particularly microvascular disease such as eye damage and kidney failure, according to the study (file image)
Diabetes UK estimates there are more than 5.6million people in the UK living with diabetes, which is an all-time high.
Around nine in ten of these have type-2 diabetes, which is linked to unhealthy lifestyles.
The number of children and young adults (under 25) with type-2 diabetes increased by 54 per cent in England between 2016/17 and 2022/23.
The NHS spends at least £10billion a year on diabetes which is about 10 per cent of its entire budget.
Almost 80 per cent of the money the NHS spends on diabetes is on treating complications.
In some hospitals over a quarter of beds are used by people with diabetes.
In 2022/23 there were 66million items prescribed for people with diabetes in England, this increased from 42.5million a decade earlier.
The findings were published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.
Helen Kirrane, head of policy and campaigns at Diabetes UK, said: ‘Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in people under 40 are rising to alarming levels in the UK and it’s very concerning to see more evidence that those who develop the condition at a younger age are also more likely to die early.
‘The Government is facing a generational opportunity to stop this health crisis in its tracks as it begins to shape its 10-year plan for the NHS.’
We also need bold action to reverse the rise of type 2 diabetes, overturn our broken food environment and give every child and young person the best possible chance to grow up in good health.’
