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Type 2 Diabetes Surges in Younger Women
28 May
Summary
- Type 2 diabetes rates are rising twice as fast in women under 40.
- Inadequate postnatal care for gestational diabetes is a key factor.
- Annual screening for gestational diabetes patients is often missed.
Rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing twice as rapidly in younger women compared to older demographics. New analysis indicates a 47% rise in diagnoses among women under 40 between 2017/18 and 2023/24, significantly higher than the 22% increase observed in women aged 40 to 79 over the same period.
Diabetes UK highlights that insufficient postnatal care for gestational diabetes is a major contributor to this trend. Gestational diabetes, which affects 10-20% of pregnant women, typically resolves after childbirth but significantly elevates the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later. However, many affected women do not receive the recommended annual HbA1c blood tests.
Last year's audit by NHS England revealed that only 57% of women with a history of gestational diabetes had an annual HbA1c test. This lack of follow-up means conditions like prediabetes or type 2 diabetes can go undetected. Diabetes UK has urged the government to bolster postnatal support for these women, emphasizing that pregnancy should not lead to long-term ill health.
