A new study presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna suggests that type 2 diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection.
Researchers found that men and people under 60 with diabetes face particularly elevated risks.
Lead researcher Wendy Davis, a principal research fellow at the University of Western Australia, said the findings reinforce earlier evidence of a connection between diabetes and sepsis.
Study Design and Key Findings
The study analyzed data from more than 1,400 Australians with type 2 diabetes and compared them to over 5,700 healthy individuals enrolled in the same long-term study between 2008 and 2011. Participants were followed for about 10 years.
- 12% of people with diabetes developed sepsis, versus 5% of non-diabetics.
- After adjusting for risk factors, type 2 diabetes was linked to a twofold increase in sepsis risk.
- Adults between ages 41 and 50 faced the steepest risk, with diabetes associated with a 14-fold increase.
- Smoking compounded the danger, with diabetic smokers showing an 83% higher risk of sepsis.
Why Diabetes Raises Sepsis Risk
Researchers explained that elevated blood sugar weakens immune defenses, making infections more likely to escalate. Diabetes also increases susceptibility to urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and skin infections — all potential triggers for sepsis.
Additionally, diabetes-related damage to blood vessels and nerves may further raise vulnerability.
Prevention and Public Health Implications
Davis emphasized that the best ways to reduce sepsis risk in people with diabetes include:
- Quitting smoking
- Controlling blood sugar levels
- Preventing long-term complications of diabetes
Since sepsis kills more than 10% of those who develop it, identifying and modifying risk factors is vital.
Study Limitations
Researchers cautioned that the study shows an association, not a direct cause-and-effect link, between diabetes and sepsis. They also noted that the findings remain preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Nonetheless, the results underscore the urgent need for prevention strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes to reduce the risk of severe, life-threatening infections.
