According to a recent study published in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care, the number of young people in the US with type 1 or type 2 diabetes may increase by up to 675% by 2060.
Data from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study shows that if incidence rates remain unchanged, the number of young people with diabetes will rise from 213,000 to 239,000 by 2060. However, if the incidence continues to rise as quickly as it did between 2002 and 2017, as many as 526,000 young people may have diabetes by that same time.
The researchers suggest that this marked increase in expected type 2 diabetes rates could be due to rising rates of childhood obesity and the presence of diabetes in people of childbearing age. Dr. Debra Houry, acting principal deputy director of the CDC, said in a statement that the research should serve as a wake-up call to focus efforts on ensuring all Americans, especially young people, are healthy. Christopher Holliday, director of the agency’s Division of Diabetes Translation, called the findings “alarming” and stated that it is crucial to advance health equity and reduce disparities that affect people’s health.
These findings provide insight into the growing prevalence of diabetes among young people in the US and the need to focus on their health. It is important to recognize the risks associated with diabetes and to take action to reduce the prevalence of this disease among young people. The CDC has called for efforts to ensure all Americans, especially young people, are healthy and to reduce disparities in access to healthcare. It is now up to us to heed this call and take action to help reduce the prevalence of diabetes among young people.