Our new data shows type 2 diabetes is rising twice as fast in women under the age of 40 compared to women over 40.
Type 2 diabetes is serious, and can lead to severe complications, such as heart attacks and strokes. When it develops in younger people, the condition is more aggressive with more severe and acute effects. That’s why it’s vital that younger people at risk are identified and urgent action is taken to prevent type 2 developing.
Our new data reveals that type 2 diabetes diagnoses rose by 47% between 2017/18 to 2023-24. In comparison, diagnoses rose by 22% in women aged 40-79.
During this same period, type 2 diabetes diagnoses in men under 40 increased by 34%.
Gestational diabetes care concerns
We are concerned about the follow-up care which is offered to women who have had gestational diabetes (GDM), which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.
And last year, the NHS published the first ever national GDM audit covering England in 2024/25, which exposed worrying inconsistencies in follow-up care.
Only 57% of women with GDM received an annual HbA1c test, which should be offered every woman with GDM. And only 4.5% of women had received support through the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP).
We have developed a free gestational diabetes traffic light tool to help healthcare professionals and people who have had gestational diabetes ensure they receive the NHS follow-on care they need to prevent type 2 diabetes.
The new report also revealed that 11% of women developed prediabetes (which means you have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes) within five years of having GDM, and 15% developed type 2 diabetes within 10 years.
A recent survey we funded highlighted the emotional impact of these inconsistencies in care, revealing that more than a third of women with GDM felt abandoned by healthcare services after giving birth.
If you live in England and you’ve had gestational diabetes, you can self-refer to the NDPP, a behaviour change programme that supports people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you’ve had gestational diabetes and you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you can talk to your GP to access support.
We are calling for change
We have written to the Women’s Health Minister, Baroness Merron, to ask for urgent improvements to postnatal support for those diagnosed with GDM during pregnancy.
GDM affects between 10-20% of pregnant women, but cases have long been underreported, and UK-wide data relating to the condition has not been readily available.
We are concerned that poor follow-up care for women who have had GDM is contributing to the rising rates of type 2 diabetes in young women.
We are calling for:
- Consistent postnatal follow-ups for women after GDM and more referrals to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
- Health services to be held accountable for improvements in postnatal care for women who have had GDM.
- Inequities in care to be addressed, particularly for women from deprived and minority ethnic communities.
Colette Marshall, Chief Executive Officer 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 GDM receive little or no follow-up care after pregnancy.
"As the Government turns its Strategy into action, support for women who have had gestational diabetes must not be overlooked.”
