Here's Your Risk Of Death After Being Diagnosed With Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, over 38 million adults in the U.S. were reported to have diabetes in 2021. Nearly 30 million of these cases were formally diagnosed, leaving more than 8 million undiagnosed. 

Research shows that the risk of mortality increases for people with diabetes, often due to the subsequent development of heart disease and kidney disease (per Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion). Studies have also shown that life expectancy may vary depending on at what age a person is diagnosed with the endocrine disorder (per The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology).

There are different kinds of diabetes, but most cases fall under the category of type 2 diabetes, in which a person has insulin resistance or the body is not producing enough insulin on its own, the Cleveland Clinic explains. As a hormone, it's insulin that helps regulate our blood sugar levels. If insulin is unable to do its job, glucose levels increase in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia — or high blood sugar. 

Here, we'll break down life expectancy estimates of patients with diabetes as well as rates of cause-specific mortality.

According to the aforementioned 2023 longitudinal study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, people with type 2 diabetes live approximately six years fewer than people without the condition. Examining data from 19 different countries, the researchers found that the younger a person is when first diagnosed, the greater their risk of early death. 

Compared to people without diabetes, a middle-aged patient in the U.S. diagnosed at the age of 30 was shown to have an average decrease in life expectancy by 14 years. If diagnosed at age 40, they were expected to die 10 years earlier. A diagnosis at age 50 was found to reduce a person's life by six years. 

Those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a younger age were also found to be at greater risk for early death due to infectious disease as well as neurological, respiratory, and external causes. These patients were also more vulnerable to mortality from cardiovascular disease in addition to other vascular causes including stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Findings of a 2021 systematic review published in the scientific journal Cureus also found a link between diabetes and an increased risk of death from cardiovascular events — specifically, sudden cardiac death. Although there are a number of factors thought to contribute to this relationship, insulin resistance is a known risk factor for sudden cardiac death. Among the people at greatest risk for life-threatening arrhythmias are those receiving insulin therapy and those with uncontrolled chronic diabetes.

For these reasons, researchers emphasize the importance of healthy food choices and treatment for any coexisting conditions in order to reduce susceptibility to mortality from cardiac causes in patients with diabetes. To help prevent the development of diabetes in the first place, Mayo Clinic experts suggest maintaining a healthy weight as decided upon between you and your doctor, getting regular physical activity to help regulate blood sugar levels, eating a diet rich in fiber and healthy fats, and keeping routine doctor appointments for type 2 diabetes screenings beginning at age 45 or younger for high-risk groups.