New analysis from Diabetes UK has revealed that type 2 diabetes is increasing twice as fast in women under the age of 40 compared to women over 40, raising fresh concerns about prevention, postnatal care and widening health inequalities.
The charity’s data shows that diagnoses of type 2 diabetes among women under 40 rose by 47% between 2017/18 and 2023/24, compared with a 22% increase among women aged 40 to 79. Over the same period, diagnoses in men under 40 increased by 34%.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition that can lead to severe complications including heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and sight loss. When it develops at a younger age, the condition is often more aggressive, with patients facing a longer lifetime exposure to complications.
Diabetes UK warns that this makes early identification and urgent prevention action critical, particularly for women at higher risk following pregnancy.
A key concern highlighted in the new data is the inconsistent follow‑up care offered to women who have had gestational diabetes (GDM), a condition that significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
In 2024/25, the NHS published its first ever national gestational diabetes audit for England, which exposed wide variation in postnatal care. The findings showed that:
- Only 57% of women with a history of GDM received an annual HbA1c blood test, despite this being recommended for all.
- Just 4.5% were referred to, or received support from, the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP).
The audit also revealed that 11% of women developed prediabetes within five years of having GDM, while 15% went on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years.
A separate Diabetes UK‑funded survey highlighted the emotional impact of these gaps in care, with more than a third of women reporting that they felt abandoned by healthcare services after giving birth.
Calls for urgent action on postnatal support
Diabetes UK has now written to the Women’s Health Minister, Baroness Merron, calling for urgent improvements to postnatal support for women diagnosed with GDM during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes affects between 10% and 20% of pregnant women, but cases have historically been underreported and comprehensive UK‑wide data has been limited.
The charity is concerned that poor follow‑up care after GDM is directly contributing to the sharp rise in type 2 diabetes among younger women. It is calling for:
- Consistent postnatal follow‑ups and increased referrals to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
- Greater accountability for health services to improve postnatal care pathways
- Action to tackle inequities in care, 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.”
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