What age group is most commonly affected by Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is primarily an autoimmune disorder that usually manifests in childhood or adolescence, but it can also develop in young adults, leading to a common understanding that it predominantly affects individuals in their youth. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in a lack of insulin.

The onset of Type 1 diabetes is most frequently observed in children and adolescents, although it can appear in some adults as well. Because of this tendency for early onset, it is widely accepted that the age group most commonly affected by Type 1 diabetes is young adults or younger. Understanding this age range is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriately targeted interventions in pediatric and young adult populations.