Diagnosis & Early Detection/August 21, 2026/2 min read

Type 1 Diabetes in Italian Children is Rising—What New Data Shows

A large study of Italian health records reveals that Type 1 diabetes is becoming more common in children, and shows which other conditions tend to develop alongside it.

PubMed indexed literature

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

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Key takeaways

Type 1 diabetes incidence in Italian children increased by more than one-third between 2018 and 2022, rising from 16.4 to 22.4 cases per 100,000 children.
Most children had few or no other health conditions at the time of Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
Autoimmune conditions—especially thyroid disease and celiac disease—were the most common comorbidities to emerge after diagnosis, often within the first year.
Healthcare use and costs were highest in the first year after diagnosis due to frequent hospitalisations and diabetes medications.

A Growing Health Concern Across Italy

Type 1 diabetes in children is becoming more common in Italy. Researchers analysed health records from nearly 12 million people across Italy between 2010 and 2023, tracking how many children under 18 were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. They used insulin prescriptions and diabetes-related hospital admissions to identify cases.

The findings are striking: between 2018 and 2022, the rate of new Type 1 diabetes diagnoses in Italian children rose from 16.4 cases per 100,000 children to 22.4 cases per 100,000—a rise of about one-third over just four years. By 2022, approximately 256 children per 100,000 in Italy were living with Type 1 diabetes.

Few Other Conditions at Diagnosis

When children were first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, most had no other significant health conditions. This finding is reassuring in that it suggests Type 1 diabetes diagnosis typically happens while children are otherwise relatively healthy.

Other Autoimmune Diseases Often Follow

During the years after diagnosis, however, other autoimmune conditions appeared in some children. These emerged most frequently in the first year after Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

The most common was thyroid disease, which developed in 8.9% of children during follow-up. Celiac disease was the second most common, occurring in 6.0% of children. Both conditions share an autoimmune basis with Type 1 diabetes, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells.

Healthcare Needs are Highest Early On

The first year after Type 1 diabetes diagnosis brought the highest healthcare burden. Children required frequent hospital admissions related to their diabetes and needed regular prescriptions for diabetes medications. Understanding this pattern helps healthcare systems prepare for the care needs of newly diagnosed children and supports families as they adjust to managing this chronic condition.

Evidence label

Source: Acta diabetologica. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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