Researchers from the University of Leicester reveal a significant association between early-onset type 2 diabetes and increased diagnoses of ADHD and autism, highlighting complex links between metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Researchers at the University of Leicester’s diabetes research centre say attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism appear to be diagnosed more often in people with type 2 diabetes, particularly when the condition develops at a younger age. The findings, which are due to be presented at the annual congress of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Milan from 28 September to 2 October, add to a growing body of evidence that links metabolic and neurodevelopmental conditions in complex ways.
The team analysed medical records for 4.2 million people in the US TriNetX database covering the period from March 2006 to March 2026. Those with type 2 diabetes were grouped by the age at which they received their diagnosis and compared with 17.1 million people without the disease. To reduce bias, the researchers matched 3.4 million pairs by age, year of birth, sex, ethnicity and race.
The sharpest differences were seen among people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 20. In that group, ADHD was recorded in 14.4% of patients, compared with 6.9% among people of the same age without diabetes. Autism was also far more common, affecting 5.72% of the diabetes group versus 1.79% of those without the condition. The contrast narrowed with age: among people first diagnosed in their seventies, ADHD was about 1.4 times more common and autism about 1.24 times more common, although autism remained rare in both older groups.
The study also found higher rates of dyslexia and dyspraxia, a developmental condition that affects movement and coordination, among people with type 2 diabetes. Overall, the likelihood of dyslexia was about double that seen in people without diabetes. The researchers stressed, however, that the work does not show that ADHD or autism causes diabetes, or that diabetes causes either condition.
That caution fits with previous research. A systematic review published in 2023 found that people with ADHD face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorder helping to explain part of the association. Other 2023 studies found that almost half of adults receiving outpatient diabetes care reported ADHD-like symptoms, while a separate Mendelian randomisation analysis suggested the relationship between psychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes may run in both directions. Taken together, the findings point to a need for more joined-up care, especially for patients managing both mental health and long-term metabolic illness.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
