Introduction

One study found that developing type 2 diabetes before age 30 can shorten the average life expectancy of an affected person by 14 years.

Risk for Young People

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have warned that the disease is becoming increasingly common among young people, putting their lives at risk.

Early Diagnosis and Preventive Measures

They noted that monitoring people most at risk and early diagnosis of their conditions can help provide them with the care they need, which could prevent years of their lives being lost.

Professor Emanuele Di Angelantonio said: “Type 2 diabetes used to be seen as a disease of older people, but we are increasingly seeing people being diagnosed earlier in life. As we have shown, this means they are at risk of a much shorter life expectancy.”

Life-Threatening Complications

Type 2 diabetes causes blood sugar levels to rise significantly due to problems with the body’s production of the hormone insulin, which breaks down glucose.

This can lead to fatal complications including kidney problems, cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Impact on Life Expectancy

Previous studies have shown that adults with type 2 diabetes die on average six years earlier than adults without it.

The latest study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, sought to find out how this reduction in life expectancy varies by age at diagnosis.

The researchers looked at the medical records of 1.5 million people around the world, including the UK, US and EU.

The earlier patients are diagnosed with diabetes, the higher their risk of death compared to those who do not have the disease.

According to the results, a 50-year-old adult would die 14 years earlier than average life expectancy if diagnosed at age 30, compared to a person without diabetes.

The analysis found that these people died ten years earlier if they were diagnosed at forty, and six years earlier if they were diagnosed at fifty.

Prevention and Urgent Priority

Dr Stephen Kaptogyi said: “Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by identifying and supporting those at greatest risk – whether by changing their behavior or providing medications to reduce their risk. But there are also structural changes we as a society need to make.” pursue”, including in relation to food processing, changes to the built environment to encourage more physical activity, etc.

He continued: “Given the impact of type 2 diabetes on people’s lives, preventing or at least delaying the onset of this disease should be an urgent priority.”

Source

Source: Sun