(UK) 40% increase in young people with type2 diabetes 2016-23

April 29, 2025, Daily Mail: Millions of teenagers may suffer 'ticking time bomb' heart problem due to common diet mistake 

Millions of seemingly healthy teenagers are at risk of deadly heart failure due to poor diets and lack of exercise, experts have warned.

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland found that teens with elevated blood sugar levels were significantly more likely to have an enlarged heart.

Once considered a disease of middle and older age, type 2 diabetes is increasingly common in young people.

 In the UK, about 168,000 people under 40 years old currently live with the condition, which also increases the risk of kidney failure, strokes and blindness. 

Of this group, a significant portion are children and young adults.

The number of young people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has been on the rise, with a 40 per cent increase observed between 2016 and 23. 

The NHS advises avoiding too much sugary food, findings ways to manage stress and exercising regularly to try to stop blood sugar levels getting too high.