Cha E, Pasquel FJ, Yan F, et al. - In this study, disparities in risk profiles for persons with early- (< 40 years old) vs later-onset (≥ 40 years old) diabetes were analyzed and it was realized that lifestyle modification and risk-based diabetes screening in asymptomatic young adults are essentials for early detection and prevention.

• In this nested case-control study, 30-year longitudinal data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study were utilized to analyze 605 participants (120 were in early-onset group while 485 were in later-onset group).

• A lower A Priori Diet Quality Score which was not statistically significant at baseline was present in the early-onset group; however, the between-group difference became significant at the time that diabetes was first detected.

• From baseline, a consistent decline in the physical activity intensity score was evident till the development of diabetes in both the early- and later-onset groups.

• More dyslipidemia at baseline as well as at the time that diabetes was first detected was reported in the early-onset group.

• Also, early-onset group experienced rapid weight gain from baseline to the development of diabetes.