Youth-onset type 2 diabetes among First Nations young people in northern Australia: a retrospective, cross-sectional study

The prevalence of youth-onset type 2 diabetes, defined as that diagnosed before the age of 25 years, is increasing worldwide, particularly in marginalised, socioeconomically vulnerable, and First Nations communities. The pathophysiology, phenotype, comorbidities, complications, treatment response, and prognosis of youth-onset type 2 diabetes are markedly higher risk than for later-onset diabetes, raising serious concerns for the future health of affected young people.

Despite this global concern, and very high rates of type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions within Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (referred to here as First Nations), data regarding type 2 diabetes prevalence among Australian young people are scarce. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased among all Australian young people over the past 20 years,5,6 with a steeper trajectory in incidence among First Nations young people.