Diabetes Type 1 Cases Rose Sharply in Swedish Youth During Pandemic, Study Finds
Stockholm, Sweden - A new study reveals a meaningful increase in type 1 diabetes diagnoses among individuals under 30 in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite no overall rise in total risk for the population. Researchers found a notable surge in cases between 2020 and 2023, prompting examination into potential contributing factors beyond viral infection.
The findings, published in diabetologia, highlight a concerning trend impacting young people’s health and underscore the complex interplay between public health crises, lifestyle changes, and chronic disease growth. While type 1 diabetes often emerges during childhood and adolescence,the observed increase warrants further scrutiny to understand the specific pandemic-era conditions that may have accelerated or triggered the disease in susceptible individuals.This research is crucial for preparing public health responses during future crises and protecting vulnerable populations.
Dominik Dietler,a researcher involved in the study,emphasized that infections themselves do not cause type 1 diabetes. “Often, type 1 diabetes debuts in this age group, self-reliant of prior infections. Infections don’t seem to cause type 1 diabetes in itself, but can accelerate or trigger the onset in people already predisposed to the disease,” he stated.
The study team is exploring weather shifts in lifestyle during the pandemic-including changes in diet, reduced physical activity, and increased stress-played a role in the observed increase. Data from other studies indicate a rise in body mass index (BMI) among children and decreased physical activity among teenagers during the same period.
Importantly, researchers definitively ruled out the COVID-19 vaccine as a contributing factor. The age group experiencing the moast significant increase in diagnoses was not recommended for vaccination, and existing research on adults suggests vaccination actually reduces the risk of developing type 1 diabetes following a COVID-19 infection. “Clearly, we can rule out that the increase in diabetes cases is due to the COVID-19 vaccine,” Dietler confirmed.
The increase in type 1 diabetes cases was not unique to Sweden, with similar trends reported in countries like Denmark and the United States. Dietler noted the findings were somewhat surprising given Sweden’s comparatively lenient pandemic restrictions.This suggests that even less stringent measures may have indirectly impacted health outcomes.
Currently, researchers are conducting a follow-up study to investigate a broader range of factors potentially influencing type 1 diabetes risk during public health emergencies.This includes examining socioeconomic factors, housing conditions, access to green spaces, and remote work opportunities.
The original research article, “Trends in type 1 diabetes incidence between 2007 and 2023 and their association with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a population-based matched cohort study among individuals under 30 years old in Sweden,” is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-025-06540-1.
