Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age. The highest incidence rates are observed in children under the age 15, but the incidence is presumed to be high until the age of 40 years. The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Finnish children has been monitored continuously since the 1960’s.
During the last decades, the incidence of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes has been globally increasing 2.5-3% annually. The highest incidence rates of type 1 diabetes in population under 15 have been observed in Finland, and this situation still prevails.
Type 2 diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic due to the widespread obesity and lack of physical activity. Although type 2 diabetes was previously considered as a disease of the aged population, new cases of type 2 diabetes are now emerging also in the young adults and even children.
In the project ’Epidemiology of diabetes among young adults’ we examine the incidence and possible environmental risk factors of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the population aged 15-39. Our results show that type 2 diabetes increased over 4% annually in this age group between the years 1992-2001. Also type 1 diabetes increased almost 4% annually.
Next we will examine the possible effects of perinatal factors on the risk for type 1 and type 2 diabetes among young adults. The geographical distribution of the incidence of young-adult onset diabetes is also of our interest.
Contact person:
Academy Research Fellow Marjatta Karvonen