Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. People of all ages can develop diabetes, though it tends to occur at different times of life depending on the type.
Can You Get Type 1 Diabetes at Any Age?
Type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This means people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to survive. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children and young adults, which is why it was originally called juvenile diabetes. However, type 1 diabetes can develop at any age.
According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), about 1.25 million Americans have type 1 diabetes. Each year, around 64,000 people are diagnosed. This includes both children and adults.
Here is a breakdown of when type 1 diabetes commonly appears:
- Early childhood – children ages 4 years old and younger
- Late childhood to early puberty – ages 5 to 14 years old
- Adolescence – ages 15 to 30
- Adulthood – ages 30 and up
As you can see, while type 1 diabetes often starts in childhood, it can develop at any time. About 40% of new type 1 diabetes cases are diagnosed in adulthood. Some studies have found a peak in rates between the ages of 10-14 years old and another smaller peak in adulthood around ages 30-40.
Risk Factors For Developing Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers don’t fully understand why some people develop type 1 diabetes. But the following factors may play a role:
- Genetics – People who have immediate family members with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk.
- Environmental triggers – Viral infections, dietary factors in early childhood, and exposure to certain chemicals or toxins may trigger autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells.
- Age – As mentioned above, rates are highest in childhood/adolescence and between ages 30-40.
- Geography – Type 1 diabetes is more common in colder climates, like northern Europe, and less common near the equator.
- Ethnicity – Caucasians and people of Northern European descent are more prone to developing type 1 diabetes.
Can Adults Get Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 90-95% of cases. It primarily develops in adults, though increasing numbers of teens and young people are also developing type 2 diabetes.
With type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin but is unable to use it effectively. This is known as insulin resistance. The cells cannot properly take up glucose from the bloodstream. Sometimes the pancreas also loses its ability to produce enough insulin to overcome the resistance.
Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes because it occurred mostly in middle-aged and older adults. However, with rising rates of childhood obesity, more young people are developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 30 million Americans have diabetes. Around 90-95% of these cases are type 2 diabetes. Here is the prevalence of type 2 diabetes at different age groups among U.S. adults:
| Age Group | Percentage with Type 2 Diabetes |
|---|---|
| 18-44 years old | 2.1% |
| 45-64 years old | 14.9% |
| 65-74 years old | 21.9% |
| 75 years and older | 22.4% |
As you can see from the table, type 2 diabetes becomes much more common in middle age and beyond. Still, a small but growing percentage of younger adults aged 18-44 also have type 2 diabetes.
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Several factors raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes as an adult:
- Weight – Carrying extra weight, especially around the abdomen, increases insulin resistance. Obesity is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
- Inactivity – Leading a sedentary lifestyle contributes to weight gain and insulin resistance.
- Family history – Having an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes slightly raises your risk.
- Gestational diabetes – Women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – PCOS also causes insulin resistance and raises the risk of diabetes.
- Prediabetes – Blood sugar levels above normal but below diabetes thresholds increase your risk.
- Age – The risk of type 2 diabetes climbs with age, especially after 45 years old.
- Race – Type 2 diabetes is more common among Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, and Pacific Islanders.
Can Older Adults Develop Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy. It involves high blood sugar levels that start or are first detected during pregnancy. Between 2-10% of expectant mothers develop gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes usually appears around weeks 24-28 of pregnancy during routine screening. However, it can develop at any time during pregnancy. Risk factors include obesity, family history of diabetes, older age during pregnancy, and a previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes does not occur in women who are not pregnant. Older women who are not pregnant will not develop this condition. However, a history of gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Preventing and Delaying Diabetes
Making healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Even with type 1 diabetes, living a healthy lifestyle and controlling blood sugar after diagnosis can minimize complications.
Here are some tips to help reduce your risk of diabetes:
- Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Exercise regularly – aim for 30+ minutes daily.
- Follow a diet centered around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil.
- Avoid sugary beverages like soda and limit sweets.
- If you have prediabetes, work hard to control your blood sugar and prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.
- Take recommended medications, like metformin, if prescribed by your doctor.
- If pregnant, attend all prenatal visits and screening exams to monitor for gestational diabetes.
- Don’t smoke or abuse alcohol.
- Manage stress through yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques.
Key Takeaways
In summary, here are some key takeaways on whether you can develop diabetes at any age:
- Type 1 diabetes often starts in childhood but can develop at any age, even into the 40s and beyond.
- Type 2 diabetes primarily affects middle-aged and older adults but is increasing among young people due to obesity.
- Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy, not in older women. But it raises your future risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Making healthy lifestyle choices and controlling prediabetes can help delay or prevent type 2 diabetes development.
Conclusion
Diabetes can start at different ages depending on the type. Type 1 diabetes often appears in childhood but can develop at any age. Type 2 diabetes mainly affects adults over 45 but can sometimes occur in younger people too. Gestational diabetes only starts during pregnancy. Understanding your risk factors and making healthy lifestyle choices are important ways to help prevent diabetes or delay its progression no matter your age.