Type 2 Diabetes Rises Sharply Among Women Under 40
Women under 40 with a history of gestational diabetes may want to ask their doctor about routine blood-sugar screening.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Diabetes
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Type 2 diabetes among women under 40 rose nearly 50% between 2017 and 2024, according to research reported in the United States. The increase is relevant to younger women and the clinicians who screen them.
Why it matters
The rise points to a group that is often not thought of as at risk for Type 2 diabetes, which can delay diagnosis. Researchers link part of the increase to gestational diabetes, suggesting pregnancy-related glucose problems may be an early signal worth tracking.
The finding draws on tracking of Type 2 diabetes among women under 40 across 2017 to 2024, which showed a nearly 50% rise. The report links part of this increase to gestational diabetes, but the extraction does not detail the study design or sample size.
The players
Mercy Medical Center
A Baltimore hospital whose physician was quoted in the coverage of this research.
The details
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or cannot produce enough of it to keep blood sugar in a normal range. Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, is one proposed contributor to later Type 2 diabetes. Because the condition can be asymptomatic, many people do not notice it until screening identifies it.
Timeline
2017: Start of the period measuring the increase in Type 2 diabetes among women under 40.
2024: End of the period measuring the increase in Type 2 diabetes among women under 40.
Health Landscape
Type 2 diabetes has long been associated with older adults, so a sharp rise among women under 40 represents a shift in who is affected. The finding adds to a growing picture of metabolic disease appearing earlier in life.
Because Type 2 diabetes can cause no symptoms, a routine blood test is the practical way to find it. If you are a woman under 40 with a history of gestational diabetes, it is worth discussing screening with your doctor.
The takeaway
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with a simple blood test, and primary care doctors commonly screen for it. Ask your doctor whether screening is appropriate for you, especially if you have had gestational diabetes.
Further reading
Explore more on Diabetes for background on how the condition is diagnosed and managed.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBAL.
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