Diabetes increases infection and mortality risks

Research indicates that individuals living with diabetes face a significantly elevated risk of serious infections, hospitalizations, and death. A large-scale study involving over 800,000 people in England found that infection is the third most common underlying cause of death for those with type 2 diabetes, following cardiovascular disease and cancer. The risk is particularly acute for those with type 1 diabetes, who showed a 337 percent higher risk of hospitalization due to infection compared to those without the condition.

Complementary findings from a prospective cohort study of 12,885 patients using UK Biobank data suggest that lifestyle interventions may mitigate these risks. Adherence to an ‘ideal’ lifestyle—characterized by factors such as never smoking, adequate sleep, and regular physical activity—was associated with a 44 percent reduction in total infection incidence among patients with type 2 diabetes. This group also showed notable protection against pneumonia and sepsis. Researchers are calling for greater emphasis on infection prevention and early recognition within global diabetes care guidelines.