Alarming Surge in Early-onset Type 2 Diabetes: A Global Catastrophe on the Horizon

Diabetes poses a significant threat to public health. In the last 30 years, the worldwide incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased drastically among adolescents. Since the number of young people with T2DM is rising, it is anticipated that early-onset T2DM will become a common characteristic of the diabetes population in developed and developing nations. Current evidence suggests that β-cell function declines more rapidly in early-onset T2DM than in older-onset T2DM. In addition, early-onset T2DM appears to be associated with a greater risk of complications, comorbidities and mortality than type 1 diabetes mellitus. A stressful lifestyle, a shifted dietary habit and a lack of physical activity are cited as causes of early-onset T2DM. Early-onset T2DM is, therefore, an urgent public health concern requiring early prevention, efficient screening and prompt intervention. This article discusses the recent literature on the incidence, mortality, morbidity and risk variables of early-onset T2DM, and the current priorities and prospective directions.