Peer Reviewed
Investigations in endocrinology

Investigating new diabetes in young adults

Kharis Burns, D Jane Holmes-walker
Abstract
With obesity increasing in young adults, type 2 diabetes accounts for almost a third of new diabetes diagnoses in this age group and distinguishing it from type 1 diabetes can be challenging.
Key Points

    The incidence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing in young adults. In the past, type 1 diabetes accounted for most cases of diabetes diagnosed in people aged under 25 years. However, with the emerging obesity epidemic, type 2 diabetes is increasingly common and accounts for 31% of new diagnoses of diabetes in young adults aged between 15 and 19 years.

    Picture credit: © Seanshot/iStockphoto.

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