New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) – Both Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death, but the effects vary between men and women, according to a new study from Uppsala University, Sweden.
CVD remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and individuals with diabetes face significantly higher risks compared to the general population.
The study revealed that younger men with T2D experience worse mortality and cardiovascular outcomes compared to those with T1D, while for women across all age groups, most risks are higher with T1D than with T2D.
“Women with Type 1 diabetes often develop it earlier, which means they live with the condition longer, increasing their lifetime risk of heart and vascular complications. They may also lose the natural protection women usually have against heart disease and frequently receive less aggressive cardiovascular treatment than men,” explained Dr. Vagia Patsoukaki from Uppsala University.
Conversely, younger men with T2D often have additional risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and unhealthy lifestyle habits. Their diabetes tends to be more aggressive and frequently diagnosed later, contributing to worse early outcomes. “Even though being female generally offers some protection, in T1D that benefit is weaker, possibly due to prolonged exposure to high blood sugar levels,” Patsoukaki added.
The research analyzed 404,026 diabetic patients aged 18–84 years, including 38,351 with T1D and 365,675 with T2D, with 233,858 males and 170,168 females.
Key findings include:
-
Males under 50 with T2D had a 51% higher risk of all cardiovascular events, 2.4 times higher risk of heart attack, and 2.2 times higher risk of heart failure compared to T1D males.
-
Women across all ages with T2D had 34% lower cardiovascular mortality and 19% lower all-cause mortality than women with T1D, particularly significant among those over 50.
The findings will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria.
