Being diagnosed with diabetes by this young age 'can reduce life expectancy by 14 years', warns study

People diagnosed with type two diabetes as early as age 30 could have a reduced life expectancy of up to 14 years, warns a new study. Researchers studying the effects of diabetes found that the earlier an individual develops the condition, the bigger a drop in their life expectancy occurs.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the University of Glasgow warned against a recent increase in younger people developing the disease - saying it could potentially take decades off their lives. The study, recently published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, highlights the urgent need for intervention to prevent or delay diabetes.

The researchers cited increasing levels of obesity, poor diets and increased laziness or sedentary behaviour as driving a rapid rise in the number of type two diabetes across the globe. In 2021, a shocking 537 million adults were estimated to have diabetes worldwide - with an ever-increasing number being diagnosed at younger ages.

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Type two diabetes increases people's risk of a range of health problems including heart attack and stroke, kidney problems and cancer. Previous estimates have suggested that adults with type 2 diabetes die an average of six years earlier than adults who don't have diabetes.

But, until now, a level of uncertainty surrounded how this reduction in life expectancy varied depending on what age an individual was when diagnosed. To explore the question, a team of scientists led by those at the University of Cambridge and the University of Glasgow examined data from two major international studies: the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration and UK Biobank – comprising a total of around 1.5 million people.

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