Diabetes reduces life expectancy

Diabetes is a recognised risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.

But there has, until now, been little information about life expectancy for people with diabetes who do not develop cardiovascular disease.

Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, researchers confirmed that people with diabetes were at greater risk of developing heart disease and of dying when heart disease was present.

They also found that people over 50 years without diabetes and without heart disease lived on average 7.8 years less for women and 8.4 years less for men, compared to their non-diabetic equivalents.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, 11 June 2007