International Day of Older Persons
Today, we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons. On this occasion, we debunk the assumption that diabetes only affects “older people”.
Diabetes is often perceived as a condition affecting older sections of the population, leading younger generations to believe they are not at risk. Unfortunately, diabetes is far from being only an “older adult” disease, as both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age. Type 1 diabetes is a specific form of autoimmune condition that traditionally develops in children and young adults, whereas Type 2, which traditionally affects older adults, is increasingly diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. The reason behind this concerning increase has to do with various factors of modern lifestyle independent of age, like obesity, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity or even environmental factors.
A study on Type 2 diabetes among adolescents and young adults* reported that more than 60% of 699 participants with type 2 diabetes had developed at least one microvascular complication and 28.4% developed at least two complications. As early-onset Type 2 diabetes diagnosed before 40 increases the chances of cardiovascular disease compared to later-onset diabetes, raising awareness about diabetes among younger generations becomes an urgent matter.
Type 2 diabetes can also be influenced by a wide variety of risk factors related to lifestyle and environmental aspects. Among these, the most notable ones are high body mass index (BMI), smoking or second-hand smoking, pollution from ambient particulate matter and a diet low in fruit. For these reasons, tackling diabetes upfront might considerably lower the chances of developing diabetes later in life. Besides opting for a healthy lifestyle (eating healthy, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight), misconceptions about diabetes need to be tackled early to avoid delays in diagnosis and the possible complications they might entail. Increased awareness and proactive screening can help identify those at risk or in the early stages of the disease, enabling timely intervention and better health outcomes.
In conclusion: diabetes doesn’t only concern older persons and the rise of Type 2 diabetes among younger individuals demands urgent attention. By rejecting dangerous misconceptions and promoting an earlier intervention, we encourage a reduction in the burden of diabetes on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide.
Sources *Global burden of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults, 1990-2019: systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 - Link
Diabetes – World Health Organisation - Link