Young Adults in Their 20s and 30s with Mental Illness Have a Higher Risk of Diabetes

If You Have a Mental Illness, Risk Increases Up to 2.36 Times
"Prevent with Lifestyle Improvements and Regular Checkups"

A study has found that young adults in their 20s and 30s with mental illnesses have more than twice the risk of developing diabetes.

The research team, including Professors Min Kyung Lee and Jae Hyuk Lee from the Department of Endocrinology at Myongji Hospital, Professor Soo Young Lee from the Department of Psychiatry, and Professor Kyung Do Han from the Department of Information Statistics and Actuarial Science at Soongsil University, analyzed the association between mental illness and diabetes and confirmed these findings on the 13th.

Professor Min-Kyung Lee, Department of Endocrinology, Myongji Hospital.

The team analyzed data from approximately 6.5 million people, including the general population aged 20 to 39 and patients diagnosed with mental illnesses, using the National Health Insurance Service data from 2009 to 2012. The scope of mental illnesses included five conditions reported to be associated with diabetes: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder.

As a result, the incidence rate of diabetes per 1,000 person-years (the number of cases occurring when 1,000 people are observed for one year) was 2.56 among the general population, compared to 2.89 among those with mental illnesses, showing a significant difference. In particular, the risk of developing diabetes by mental illness was 2.36 times higher in schizophrenia (6.05 cases) and 1.96 times higher in bipolar disorder (5.02 cases) compared to the general population. Additionally, those with sleep disorders (3.23 cases), depression (3 cases), and anxiety disorders (2.78 cases) also had a higher risk of developing diabetes.

The research team interpreted that factors such as psychiatric medications, physiological characteristics, and lifestyle habits of patients with mental illnesses could influence the occurrence of diabetes. Patients with mental illnesses may lack awareness of diabetes and find it difficult to manage appropriate lifestyle habits such as exercise and dietary restrictions, making them relatively more vulnerable to obesity and diabetes.

Professor Min Kyung Lee emphasized, "This study is significant in that it clarified the association between mental illness and diabetes among young adults under 40 using domestic big data," adding, "For patients with mental illnesses under the age of 40, it is important to prevent the onset of diabetes through active lifestyle improvements and regular check-ups."

The study results were published in the SCI-level international journal 'JAMA Network Open.'

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