From the Guidelines
Life expectancy of a patient with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is approximately 10-15 years less than that of the general population.
Factors Affecting Life Expectancy
- Age at diagnosis: Earlier diagnosis can lead to a longer life expectancy with proper management 1
- Type of diabetes: Type 2 diabetes has a better prognosis than type 1 diabetes due to the availability of more treatment options and the potential for better blood sugar control 1
- Presence of complications: Patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular, renal, neurological, and retinal complications, which can significantly reduce life expectancy 1
- Glycemic control: Tight blood sugar control can help prevent or delay the onset of complications and improve life expectancy 1
Importance of Glycemic Control
- HbA1c targets: The American College of Physicians recommends aiming for an HbA1c level between 7% and 8% in most patients with type 2 diabetes, with more stringent targets for patients with a longer life expectancy and less stringent targets for those with limited life expectancy or multiple comorbidities 1
- Individualized treatment: Treatment goals should be personalized based on patient characteristics, such as age, health status, and presence of complications 1
Considerations for Older Adults
- Treatment goals: Less stringent HbA1c targets may be appropriate for older adults with multiple comorbidities or limited life expectancy 1
- Risk of hypoglycemia: Older adults are at a higher risk of hypoglycemia, and treatment goals should be adjusted accordingly 1 Overall, the life expectancy of a patient with diabetes mellitus can be improved with proper management, including tight blood sugar control, regular monitoring, and individualized treatment plans.
From the Research
Life Expectancy of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
- The life expectancy of patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) can vary depending on several factors, including age at diagnosis, type of diabetes, and presence of cardiovascular disease 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A study published in 2009 found that patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care had a normal life expectancy compared to the general population, with a history of cardiovascular disease and albuminuria being significant predictors of reduced life expectancy 2.
- Another study published in 2023 found that every decade of earlier diagnosis of diabetes was associated with about 3-4 years of lower life expectancy, highlighting the need to develop and implement interventions to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and to intensify the treatment of risk factors among young adults diagnosed with diabetes 3.
- A multinational, population-based study published in 2022 estimated that the lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes ranged from 16.3% to 59.6% across 23 high-income jurisdictions, and that life expectancy in people with type 2 diabetes increased with time for both sexes in all jurisdictions, except for Spain and Scotland 4.
- A review published in 2022 discussed the current situation of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in older adults and highlighted future prospects, noting that the recent increase in life expectancy has resulted in an increase in the number of older adults with diabetes mellitus 6.
- A study published in 2007 found that having diabetes significantly increased the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and of dying when cardiovascular disease was present, and that diabetic men and women 50 years and older lived on average 7.5 and 8.2 years less than their nondiabetic equivalents 5.
Factors Affecting Life Expectancy
- Age at diagnosis: earlier diagnosis of diabetes is associated with lower life expectancy 3.
- Type of diabetes: type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different effects on life expectancy 2, 4.
- Presence of cardiovascular disease: cardiovascular disease is a significant predictor of reduced life expectancy in patients with diabetes 2, 5.
- Albuminuria: albuminuria is a significant predictor of reduced life expectancy in patients with diabetes 2.