Title of project

Targeting Tomorrow’s Diabetes Crisis: A Transdisciplinary Study of Disease Burden and Care Pathways for Young-Onset Type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Young-onset type 2 diabetes (YOD), defined as diagnosis before the age of 40, represents a rapidly escalating public health challenge with profound clinical and societal implications. Unlike typical late-onset type 2 diabetes (after 40 years), YOD is associated with a more aggressive disease course, earlier onset of complications, and often poorer long-term outcomes. Despite its increasing prevalence globally, including in Denmark, research on the epidemiology, healthcare engagement, and management of YOD remains limited. This project aims to fill this critical knowledge gap through a transdisciplinary and comparative investigation of YOD in Denmark, contextualised by insights from New Zealand, a country with a similar population size but distinct demographic and health equity challenges.

Leveraging Denmark’s comprehensive national health registries and established expertise in diabetes research, A/Prof Lynne Chepulis and Prof Sandbaek plan to characterise demographic, clinical, and healthcare utilisation patterns among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes under 40 years of age. The research will examine disparities in disease burden and care pathways, and explore models of care and medication use that can optimise management in this younger age group. Findings have the potential to directly inform policy and clinical practice to improve early management pathways, patient education, and engagement strategies tailored for young adults with type 2 diabetes, with the broader, overarching aim of optimising health outcomes.