Type 1 diabetes rising sharply among Puerto Rican teens

Clinical Takeaway: Consider heightened vigilance for symptoms of type 1 diabetes in adolescents, particularly in Puerto Rican and broader Hispanic/Latino populations, as incidence appears to be rising.

Rising type 1 diabetes incidence in Hispanic/Latino youth highlights the need for earlier detection strategies, tailored prevention research, and resource planning for a rapidly changing patient population.

Type 1 diabetes incidence among teens in Puerto Rico increased significantly over 16 years, more than doubling from 2009 to its peak in 2021 and remaining elevated through 2024, according to a population-based observational study being presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.

Researchers analyzed newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes cases among Puerto Rico residents aged 15 to 19 years from 2009 to 2024, using case data from the Fundación Pediátrica de Diabetes and U.S. Census population estimates to calculate annual crude incidence rates per 100,000 population. The broader dataset included 3,156 pediatric diabetes cases among individuals aged 0 to 21 years, from which 612 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes cases in adolescents aged 15 to 19 years were identified.

Annual incidence among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years rose from 10.1 per 100,000 in 2009 to a peak of 24.1 per 100,000 in 2021. Although the rate declined after that peak, it remained elevated at 18.3 per 100,000 in 2024.

Joinpoint regression showed a single continuous upward trend across the study period, with an annual percent change of 4.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.71–7.57; p=0.021), indicating a statistically significant sustained rise.

“These findings have important implications for both patient care and public health, including the need for earlier detection and increased prevention efforts,” said lead author Natalia Vázquez Colón, M.S., of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. She added that the data may help ensure clinical guidelines and healthcare resources better reflect the needs of Hispanic/Latino populations across the United States.

The authors said continued population-based surveillance is needed, along with studies to identify factors contributing to the rise.

Source: Vasquez Colon N, et al. Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, Abstract ORF10-04. June 13, 2026. AI-Based Approach to Screening Primary Aldosteronism