How old is diabetes?

The age of onset of diabetes is a relatively broad range, there is no fixed limit. Generally speaking, diabetes can occur in any age group, from young children to elderly patients aged 80 - 90. However, there are some differences in the age of onset of different types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs at a relatively young age, often in children and adolescents, with acute onset and obvious symptoms. This type of diabetes is mainly due to the destruction of islet beta cells caused by autoimmune reactions, and insulin secretion is absolutely insufficient. Type 2 diabetes is more common, accounting for more than 95% of the total number of diabetic patients. The age of onset is relatively late, generally in adulthood, especially in the elderly over 40 years of age more common. However, it is worth noting that in recent years, the age of onset of type 2 diabetes has gradually younger trend, 30 - 40 years of age in the young and middle-aged population incidence is also gradually increasing. In addition, there are some special types of diabetes, such as gestational diabetes, single-gene diabetes, etc., their onset age and mechanism are also different. In summary, there is no fixed age limit for diabetes, but it is affected by many factors, including genetics, environment, lifestyle, etc. Therefore, regardless of age, a healthy lifestyle should be maintained and blood sugar levels regularly monitored to prevent diabetes.