Developing type 2 diabetes before you hit 60 linked to stroke, heart and brain problems, and an early death

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-10-01 01:00

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US scientists say developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) before you hit 60 increases your risk of stroke, heart disease, cognitive impairment and an early death, compared with developing the condition after 60. The team looked at health data for 36,060 US adults aged 50 years and older. People who were diagnosed with T2D at 50 to 59 years of age were more likely to have heart disease, a stroke, disability, cognitive impairment, and to die prematurely than those who developed the condition later in life. As the age of diabetes onset increased, the extra risks diminished, the researchers found. They say the findings show how T2D can affect different people in very different ways, and highlight the importance of improving diabetes management in adults with an earlier diagnosis.