More Young Women Are Developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Researchers say type 2 diabetes is increasing most rapidly among women under 40. The condition is often underdiagnosed in women or detected too late to prevent it from getting worse.

There was once a simple way to distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes. Type 1 was generally associated with an autoimmune condition that developed in younger people, while type 2 was more commonly diagnosed in older adults and often linked to lifestyle factors.

That age-based distinction is no longer as clear.

More young people are now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with young women experiencing some of the fastest increases. In England, researchers found that the largest rise in new type 2 diabetes diagnoses occurred among women under 40.

Researchers from Imperial College London analyzed data from the English National Diabetes Audit covering 2011 to 2024. They found that while type 2 diabetes rates were declining among adults ages 60 to 79, diagnoses were increasing among people under 40.

The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, found particularly sharp increases among Black, Asian and white women in their 20s, as well as white women in their 30s.

Lead researcher Shivani Misra noted that discussions about early-onset type 2 diabetes have often focused on ethnic minority groups. While these groups continue to experience disproportionately high rates, the researchers also found rising cases among white populations, suggesting that the growing health concern is affecting younger generations more broadly.

Lifestyle Factors May Be Driving the Rise in Type 2 Diabetes Among Young People

The trend is not limited to the UK. Germany is seeing a similar increase in type 2 diabetes among younger people, according to Baptist Gallwitz, an endocrinologist and spokesperson for the German Diabetes Society (DDG).

“Type 2 diabetes is increasing in many countries,” Gallwitz said. He described the trend as a global health crisis, noting that Germany is also seeing more children and teenagers being diagnosed with the condition.

According to the DDG’s 2026 Diabetes Health Report, cases of type 2 diabetes among young people ages 11 to 17 increased by an average of 5.8% each year between 2014 and 2023.

Genetics can influence a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but lifestyle factors remain a major contributor.

Experts point to increasingly sedentary lifestyles and diets that are high in sugar and calories as important factors. These habits can contribute to rising obesity rates among young people, which significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not respond effectively to insulin, causing glucose to build up in the bloodstream.

Type 1 diabetes is different. It occurs when the body’s insulin-producing cells are destroyed, resulting in little to no insulin production.

Tackling the Rise of Type 2 Diabetes Among Young People

The growing number of young people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is especially concerning because the disease can progress more aggressively in younger patients than in older adults.

“Any diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is serious, but it can be more aggressive in younger people,” said Helen Kirrane of Diabetes UK. She noted that early-onset diabetes can increase the risk of serious complications and may shorten life expectancy.

Experts emphasize the importance of early intervention and prevention. Germany’s Diabetes Society (DDG) has supported measures such as a tax on sugary drinks, but says additional steps are needed.

The organization is calling for a tiered tax system in which healthier foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, would have lower or no taxes, while products high in added sugars and saturated fats would face higher taxes. It also supports healthier meals in schools and kindergartens and recommends incorporating at least one hour of physical activity into the school day.

However, improving access to exercise also requires creating safer environments for women, according to Alexandra Kautzky-Willer, head of endocrinology and metabolism at the Medical University of Vienna.

She emphasized that women may be less likely to exercise outdoors or visit a gym if they are worried about harassment, being judged about their weight, or feeling unsafe. Creating environments where women feel comfortable and safe being physically active could therefore be an important part of preventing type 2 diabetes among young women.

Type 2 Diabetes May Be Underdiagnosed in Women

The actual number of women living with type 2 diabetes may be higher than current statistics suggest. A 2025 report by Alexandra Kautzky-Willer and a colleague, published in the German medical journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt, highlighted concerns that the condition is often diagnosed later in women.

The researchers noted that men are typically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a younger age. By the time women receive a diagnosis, they are more likely to have obesity, high blood pressure and greater weight gain, which can also increase their risk of serious complications such as heart attacks and strokes.

One possible reason for the delayed diagnosis is the way diabetes is initially tested. Doctors often use fasting blood glucose, which measures blood sugar after a person has gone without food for at least eight hours.

However, fasting blood sugar provides only a snapshot and may not detect spikes in glucose that occur after eating. Kautzky-Willer noted that fasting blood glucose tends to be lower in women than in men, meaning some cases may go undetected.

A glucose tolerance test may provide a more complete picture of how the body processes sugar, although it requires more time and effort to perform.