Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in Malaysians as young as 14 years old, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said, calling it a warning sign that the disease is no longer limited to adults but is affecting teenagers and young people too [1, 2].

New cases among people under 30 increased slightly from 1,926 in 2024 to 1,932 in 2025, with 660 new cases recorded as of June 2026, indicating a continuing trend [1, 3, 2]. In the 2025 National Health Screening Initiative, 347,813 individuals aged 18 to 30 were screened. Among them, 3.4% had elevated blood glucose and 8.8% had high blood pressure, both risk factors linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease [1, 3, 2].

The government has raised taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages several times since 2019, from 40 sen per litre initially to 90 sen per litre by January 2025, in efforts to curb sugar consumption [3, 2]. This has corresponded with a decline in daily consumption of carbonated drinks among adolescents from 36.9% in 2019 to 32.4% in 2024, and overall sugary beverage consumption among youth falling from 36.9% to 16.4% over the same period [3, 2].

Despite these efforts, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension remain a major health threat in Malaysia, causing about 94,000 deaths annually—more than twice the death toll during the two-year Covid-19 pandemic [1, 2].

The Health Ministry has shifted its approach from treatment to prevention. The 2024–2030 sugar reduction strategic plan includes behavioral science techniques promoting early detection and lifestyle changes to reduce disease risk [3].

Separately, the Ministry of Transport reported that nearly 70% of road accident victims in 2025 were aged 16 to 40. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said heavy vehicles, drunk driving, and reckless driving contributed significantly to Malaysia’s high accident rates [4]. In 2025 alone, there were 6,157 accidents involving those aged 16–20, 5,978 aged 21–25, 4,716 aged 26–30, and 3,640 aged 31–35 [4].

The ministry requires mandatory health screenings for all new or renewal vocational driving licenses regardless of age but currently opposes age-based screenings for elderly drivers. Datuk Hasbi noted that advancing age does not necessarily reduce driving ability, as health and capabilities vary widely among older individuals [4].

Health authorities will continue monitoring youth diabetes cases and screening results during 2026, aiming to refine prevention strategies and reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia [1, 3, 2].