According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of US teenagers are prediabetic, meaning that their blood sugar levels surpass normal (less than 5.6mmol/L) but are not yet classified as diabetes (over 6.9mmol/L) so lie in between 5.6mmol/L to 6.9mmol/L. Previous research from the CDC suggests that this rate has more than doubled since 1999, which is likely a consequence of lifestyle factors such as poor diet and a lack of physical exercise. Approximately 70% of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes (T2D), so it is vital to minimise the factors associated with elevated glucose levels to prevent future diagnosis of T2D among this group. Dr Christopher Holliday, the CDC’s leading official in diabetes prevention, said the results of this research should serve as a “wake-up call”, as the risk of T2D poses a “significant threat” to young people’s health. GlobalData epidemiologists anticipate that if children and adolescents in the US continue to live unhealthy lifestyles, the prevalence of T2D and a cascade of other chronic illnesses will also increase and likely be diagnosed earlier in adulthood.
T2D is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not produce, or cannot use, the hormone insulin responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. Insulin issues typically begin during puberty and, without treatment, can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves, which increases the risk of cardiovascular issues, kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, and amputations—additionally, diabetes can weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections such as Covid-19. For this reason, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US.
As stated previously, being prediabetic, or diabetic, is associated with an inactive lifestyle and poor diet—the increase in the young prediabetic population suggests that this lifestyle is increasing across the US. Dr Holliday stated that “simple life changes like healthy eating and staying active can make a big difference in preventing or delaying T2D”. This emphasises the need for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle among children and adolescents in the US—health officials must focus on groups who are vulnerable to food insecurity and poor health literacy in a time where weight loss treatments are increasing in popularity to ensure that the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle are not forgotten.
GlobalData epidemiologists currently expect that in 2025 there will be 18,000 diagnosed prevalent cases of T2D among 13–19 years, which is expected to remain stable at 18,000 cases in 2028—however, if the rate of prediabetes continues to increase it is likely that there will be an increase in the diagnosis of T2D in teenagers and young adults, in addition to the increase of other chronic conditions. But if the necessary lifestyle improvements are made, there should be a decrease in the diagnosed prevalent cases of T2D and related chronic conditions in the US.