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News
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are rising sharply among American youth, with T2D accelerating fastest. Data from the Colorado Youth Diabetes Registry show T2D incidence nearly tripled from 2002 to 2023, hitting Black and Hispanic teens hardest. Globally, T1D cases are projected to jump from 9.4 million to 12.2 million by 2049, driven largely by improved survival rates.
Two epidemiologic studies presented at the EASD 2026 Annual Meeting in Milan paint a troubling picture of diabetes trends in young people. Data from the Colorado Youth Diabetes Registry show that type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence among those under 20 began climbing after 2014, while type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been rising steadily since 2002 — and at a much steeper rate. By 2022–2023, T2D incidence among 15–19-year-olds was approaching that of T1D, a striking shift for a condition once considered an adult disease. Black and Hispanic youth and males saw the steepest increases, with the COVID-19 pandemic likely amplifying the trend.
On the global front, a modeling study projects T1D prevalence will grow from 9.4 million in 2025 to 12.2 million by 2049 — driven mainly by improved survival thanks to modern insulin therapies, continuous glucose monitors, and insulin pumps. Low-income countries are expected to bear a disproportionate share of new cases and deaths.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: A generation of young people entering adulthood with diabetes means decades of complications, healthcare costs, and quality-of-life challenges ahead. Experts are calling for routine metabolic screening in teens with obesity and other risk factors — and clinicians should prepare for a significantly larger T1D patient population in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
