Type 2 diabetes is rising twice as fast in women under 40 amid soaring obesity

By SHAUN WOOLLER, EXECUTIVE HEALTH EDITOR Published: 00:02, 28 May 2026 | Updated: 00:02, 28 May 2026 Rates of type 2 diabetes are rising twice as fast in younger women than older women amid soaring levels of obesity. Diagnoses among those aged under 40 increased by 47 per cent between 2017/18 and 2023/24, according new analysis by Diabetes UK. This compares with an increase of just 22 per cent among women aged between 40 and 79. The charity warns obesity is a 'significant' risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to poor lifestyles and has historically been associated with older people. Obesity rates among women have almost doubled in the UK between 1993 and 2024, rising from 16.4 per cent to 30 per cent - almost one in three. Left unmanaged type 2 diabetes can lead to life-altering complications such as heart attacks, strokes, blindness and limb amputations. Diabetes UK said: 'Living with obesity is a significant risk factor, and the number of people living with obesity in the UK – including those in younger age groups – has risen across recent years.' It said genetics, age and ethnicity also play a role but it believes some of the rise could be down to 'little or no follow-up care' for women who develop the condition while pregnant. Colette Marshall, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said the figures should be 'a wake-up call'. The charity has now written to women's health minister Baroness Merron, calling for urgent action to bolster postnatal support for those with gestational diabetes (GD). GD affects between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of pregnant women and happens when they cannot produce enough insulin, leading to high blood sugar. It usually disappears after birth, although patients face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Women with GD should be offered HbA1c blood tests to check for diabetes between six and 13 weeks after birth, and then once a year to measure average blood sugar levels. The first annual gestational diabetes audit, which was published last year by NHS England, showed that only 57 per cent of women had an annual HbA1c test after having GD. It also showed that more than one in 10 (11 per cent) of women with GD developed pre-diabetes within a year, while 15 per cent developed type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Colette Marshall, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said: 'These figures should be a wake-up call. 'Type 2 diabetes is rising twice as fast in younger women compared to older women, and a crucial opportunity for prevention is being missed. 'Every diagnosis is life-changing, but when it develops in younger people, type 2 diabetes is even more aggressive. 'Pregnancy shouldn't be a pathway to ill health. Yet despite facing a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes, too many women with GD receive little or no follow-up care after pregnancy.' Around 4.7 million people in the UK are living with a diabetes diagnosis, although Diabetes UK estimates almost 1.3 million have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Meg, 33, was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in 2020 when pregnant with her son. Six years later, she has still not had a postnatal check-up regarding diabetes risks. The teacher from Somerset said: 'I had gestational diabetes for the last two weeks of my pregnancy, before my son arrived prematurely at 29 weeks. I was given no information about my increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and the steps I could take to prevent it. 'I had a phone call with my GP after the birth, but there weren't any discussions about my gestational diabetes. 'I'm surprised that I never had follow-up HbA1c checks, particularly as I'm considered high risk for type 2 diabetes, not only because of the gestational diabetes, but also because I have polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome and family members with type 2 diabetes. 'Having clear facts about what gestational diabetes means for you during and after pregnancy, and how to manage it, would have made me feel so much more supported, both physically and mentally.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.