The CDC cited a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care, which models a nearly 700% increase in type 2 diabetes diagnoses in Americans under the age of 20 through 2060, if an expected upward trend continues.
Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, could also escalate 65% among young Americans in the next 40 years following the same trend.
Debra Houry, the CDC´s acting principal deputy director, said “the new research should serve as a wake-up call for all of us.” “It’s vital that we focus our efforts to ensure all Americans, especially our young people, are the healthiest they can be,” Houry said in a statement, adding it was important “to prevent and manage chronic diseases, not only for our current population but also for generations to come.”
Based on the expected surge in the new study, about 526,000 young Americans could have both types of diabetes by 2060, compared to a total of 213,000 for the population in 2017.
A potential factor behind the trend could be an increase in childhood obesity, according to the CDC, which estimated the increase of diabetes in younger Americans will disproportionally affect minority populations.
Millions of Americans of all ages have diabetes, which is a seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and extremely costly for those living with it. Diabetes is not curable.
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin, while in type 2, the most common form of diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin properly. Insulin is needed to break down blood sugars in the body for energy.
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