diabetesDE advises: Effectively combat the causes of death in diabetes

20.04.2010 16:41

High risk of diabetes shortens life expectancy by 13 years

Type 2 diabetics can significantly improve their quality of life and life expectancy. Studies show how closely obesity, lack of exercise, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and increased mortality are linked. DiabetesDE therefore calls for consistent preventive measures to reduce the number of people affected.

The mass and distribution of body fat, dietary habits, and lifestyle all determine how well and how long those with the disease live. "Even people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes have a life expectancy reduced by 13 years—regardless of age and gender," emphasizes Professor Dr. Hans-Georg Joost, Scientific Director of the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) and responsible for the Science Department at diabetesDE.

The connections between obesity, diet, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and increased mortality risk have been well researched. Among other studies, evaluations such as the "European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study" most recently conducted in 2009 demonstrated the serious consequences for people with an increased risk of diabetes: They are almost three times more likely to suffer a heart attack and almost twice as likely to suffer a stroke as people with a very low risk of diabetes.

Their mortality risk was also 2.4 times higher, corresponding to a 13-year reduction in life expectancy.
One reason for this is that both too much body fat in the abdominal cavity, so-called visceral fat, and incipient or existing diabetes mellitus can damage blood vessels and cause cardiovascular diseases.

"It is necessary for us as a diabetes organization to start where diabetes has not yet manifested," says Professor Joost. "Even people with a normal body mass index (BMI) are at increased risk if the amount of visceral body fat exceeds a healthy level. This should be taken more into account in medical examinations. Even a simple waist measurement helps to classify the amount of body fat stored in the abdominal cavity and thus determine a person's risk of developing the disease."

In a position paper on prevention, diabetesDE therefore calls for improved prevention and early detection of diabetes. Targeted, early intervention against the disease and well-controlled blood sugar levels can prevent complications such as heart attacks, strokes, blindness, or kidney failure. Heart attacks and strokes, in particular, are among the leading causes of death. Effectively preventing these prolongs life and quality of life.