ADHD and autism were several times more common in type 2 diabetes diagnosed before age 20

What the research found

Study (observational). Jonathan Goldney and colleagues at the University of Leicester present hospital-record data at EASD (EurekAlert 26 September 2026). They looked at neurodiversity codes — ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia — in 4.2 million people with a new type 2 diabetes diagnosis in the US TriNetX network from March 2006 to March 2026, then matched 3.4 million pairs under age 80 to people without diabetes. ADHD and autism were more common in the diabetes group at every age, and the gap was widest before age 20. There, ADHD was 14.4% versus 6.9%, and autism was 5.72% versus 1.79%. By ages 70 to 79 the ratios were about 1.4 and 1.24, and autism was under 0.01% in both groups. Dyslexia was about twice as common with diabetes and did not follow a clear age slope. The authors say this does not mean most neurodivergent people will develop diabetes. More contact with hospitals could also raise the chance a diagnosis is recorded. Records were not built for research. Educational notes on access to care, not a risk score.

Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.

Read the original at University of Leicester / EurekAlert