lebanon, NH – Type 2 diabetes, once considered a disease that primarily affected older adults, is becoming more common in younger people, a Dartmouth Health physician says, underscoring the importance of recognizing risk factors and getting screened before serious complications develop.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 40 million people in the United States have diabetes, and millions more are living with the disease without knowing it. About 95% of diabetes cases are Type 2 diabetes.

“For younger people, it’s a perfect storm with easier access to calorie-dense, low-nutrient processed foods, and more time spent online instead of being active. That’s driving the rise in diabetes, said Jared M. Darlian, DO, a family medicine physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua.

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body cannot properly make or use insulin, the hormone that helps convert food into energy. Over time, elevated blood sugar can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves and other organs if left untreated.

“A lot of people think that because diabetes is so common, it’s not that serious,” said Darlian. “Diabetes is something that can affect every part of your health.”

Type 2 diabetes often develops gradually, and many people do not recognize the symptoms until the disease has progressed. Common warning signs include increased thirst and urination, fatigue, increased hunger, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, frequent infections and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

Prediabetes also frequently goes undiagnosed because it often causes no symptoms. Darlian said routine blood work can identify prediabetes early, allowing patients to make lifestyle changes that may prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

“It means you’re not diabetic yet, but your body’s showing some signs it’s having a hard time keeping up,” said Darlian. “But you can reverse it.”

For Stephen Richert, RN, a diabetes care and education specialist at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, a member of Dartmouth Health, diabetes has been personal. Richert was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a teenager and now helps patients learn how to manage the disease.

“At the time, I had no idea someone at my age could get diabetes, because I only knew about Type 2 diabetes, which normally would happen to your grandparents,” said Richert.

Now, Richert teaches patients that successful diabetes management means paying attention to food, medication, sleep, stress, and exercise. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of long-term complications. While Type 1 diabetes requires insulin because the body no longer produces it, Type 2 diabetes can often be managed through healthy lifestyle choices, medication, and in some cases, insulin therapy.

“Diabetes is becoming more personalized, more technology-driven, and more preventative than before,” said Darlian.