Research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes suggests that autism and ADHD are significantly more common in young people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, prompting calls for more tailored healthcare approaches.
A large analysis presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Milan suggests that autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be more common among people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a young age. The research, based on US hospital records, found the highest rates of neurodivergence in people diagnosed before the age of 20, a group in which ADHD and autism were markedly more common than among peers without diabetes.
According to the study team, led by Jonathan Goldney at the University of Leicester Diabetes Research Centre and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, ADHD was identified in 14.4% of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before 20, compared with 6.9% of similarly aged people without diabetes. Autism showed an even sharper gap, affecting 5.72% of the younger diabetes group versus 1.79% of those without the condition. The researchers also reported that dyslexia and dyspraxia were more frequent in younger patients, although the strongest and clearest patterns were seen with ADHD and autism.
The findings add to previous research suggesting a link between neurodivergence and diabetes. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis found that people with ADHD have more than double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while a 2020 review of autism and diabetes found a trend towards higher diabetes prevalence in autistic people. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also said mental health conditions, including ADHD, are more common among people with diabetes, particularly younger patients, underscoring the case for joined-up care.
Goldney said health systems are not yet meeting the needs of people living with both early-onset type 2 diabetes and neurodivergence, arguing that busy clinics and complex self-management can be especially difficult to navigate. The researchers stressed that their work does not show that neurodivergent people are likely to develop diabetes, only that the overlap is greater in younger age groups. They also cautioned that the study was observational, relied on anonymised hospital records and could not prove cause and effect. Even so, the authors said future services should take neurodiversity into account when designing diabetes care for younger adults.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
