Is there is a significant interaction between diabetes mellitus (DM) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Harold Robert Meyer and The ADD Resource Center                              04/13/2025 

(Please note that this has not been peer reviewed.)

Research has demonstrated bidirectional associations between these conditions, explicitly highlighting the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

1. Prevalence of DM in ADHD patients:

• Individuals with ADHD have a higher prevalence of type 2 DM compared to those without ADHD (0.8% vs. 0.3%)2.
• There is a 166% increase in type 2 DM among children with ADHD and a 51% increase in adults with ADHD, relative to those without ADHD1.
• Type 1 DM shows a 37% increase in children with ADHD1.

2. Prevalence of ADHD in DM patients:

• There is a 35% increase in the prevalence of ADHD among patients with type 1 DM1.
• Children with type 1 DM and ADHD have higher levels of hemoglobin A1c and a higher prevalence of hypoglycemic and ketoacidosis events compared to those without ADHD1.

3. Maternal diabetes and ADHD risk in offspring:

• A recent meta-analysis found that offspring of diabetic mothers had a 40% increased risk of ADHD3.
• A multinational cohort study revealed that children born to mothers with any type of diabetes during pregnancy had a higher risk of ADHD (pooled hazard ratio = 1.16)4.

4. Impact on diabetes management:

• Undiagnosed ADHD in people with diabetes has been shown to negatively impact diabetes treatment and metabolic control5.
• Adults with type 2 diabetes exhibit high levels of ADHD-like symptoms compared to population norms5.
• Patients with co-morbid ADHD and type 2 DM have a higher incidence of poor glycemic control7.

These findings highlight the complex interplay between DM and ADHD, emphasizing the importance of considering both conditions in clinical practice for better management and outcomes.

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