There was a time when type 2 diabetes was considered to be a disease that is commonly found among adults or seniors. But alas, this is no longer the case. Statistics show T2D is prevalent in children, teens, and young adults.
This indicates that anyone who has a high risk of developing diabetes should go for regular screening for this condition. Several factors may affect your risk for diabetes.
You can change some of these elements such as how much exercise you get per day as well as your weight. But you cannot change some things such as your age, gender, race, and family history.
Being aware of these things, however, can help you take reasonable steps to minimize the risk.
How True Is It That Diabetes Affects Young People?
A multi-center study that was carried out by the joint efforts of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2008 to 2009 confirmed the worrying trend that about 5,089 individuals whose ages were below twenty were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
In the same year, about 18,436 youths under twenty years of age had type 1 diabetes.
Researchers believe that the prevalence of diabetes in children or young adults is as a result of the increase in childhood obesity.
Children who are about three years of age have been proven to develop diabetes, but as stated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), individuals between ages ten and nineteen have a considerably higher risk of developing diabetes when compared to children under ten years of age.
The American Diabetes Association published an article in 2013 that discussed a link between puberty and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance, which is the dominant trait of type 2 diabetes, is more common during adolescence. The effectiveness of insulin is lessened considerably, and this makes the human body to counteract this action by producing more insulin than is necessary.
This process, therefore, causes reduced production of insulin, and this leads to the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Which Age Groups Are Susceptible to Diabetes?
The age groups that are more prone to diabetes are as follows:
- Youths between ages ten to nineteen
- Middle-aged adults between ages 45 and 64
One primary thread that runs through these age groups has to do with the growing obesity epidemic. The other risks associated with these age groups include lack of physical activity as well as family history.
As results, people within these age groups – especially adults 45 years and above – should go for regular medical checkups for diabetes. For adults under 45 years of age who have risk factors like a family history of diabetes, obesity, etc. should be screened on a regular basis as well.
In conclusion, anyone that shows common symptoms of diabetes which include fatigue, extreme thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, etc. should endeavor to see their physician.
Sources:
1. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018, May 04). Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444
2. Nere Onosode. (2017, July 28). CDC Survey Shows Age-Related Variability in Diabetes Management. Endocrine Web. Retrieved from https://www.endocrineweb.com/professional/diabetes-complications/cdc-survey-shows-age-related-variability-diabetes-management
3. Bruno, G., Gruden, G., Songini, M. (2015, Dec 28). Incidence Of Type 1 Diabetes In Age Groups Above 15 Years: Facts, Hypothesis, And Prospects For Future Epidemiologic Research. Acta Diabetol. Retrieved from http://www.aobrotzu.it/documenti/9_334_20160217103946.pdf
4. Thomas Reinehr. (2013, Dec 15). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Children And Adolescents. World Journal of Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3874486/
5. (2013, Oct 10). Early Puberty Linked to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk. American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2013/early-puberty-linked-to-higher-type-2-risk.html
6. Diabetes and Obesity. Diabetes.co.uk. retrieved from https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-obesity.html
7. Jennifer Huizen. (2017, May 10). Type 2 Diabetes: What Is The Average Age Of Onset?. Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317375.php