inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
mosquito-borne diseases affect up to 700 million people each year. learn more
powered by: valneva canada inc.

diabetics face increased risk of infection death

the findings show infection prevention has never been more important, particularly amid the emergence of covid-19.

by dave yasvinski

aug 6 2021
read time 2 minute read
join the conversation
diabetes and risk of death from infection
few studies have taken a large-scale look at diabetes and rates of infection hospitalization — and their outcomes. getty
people with diabetes are 92 per cent more likely to require hospitalization to help fight an infection and face a 72 per cent greater risk of death from infection than non-diabetics, according to a new study.

the research, published in the journal diabetologia , found the association held across all sub-groups but was strongest among black patients and people below the age of 55. one in three canadians are currently living with prediabetes or diabetes, a disease in which one’s body does not produce insulin or does not properly use the insulin it does produce, according to diabetes canada .

diabetes has long been thought to increase the risk of infection because the disease weakens the immune system’s ability to stop the spread of problematic pathogens. previous research has shown people with diabetes have an elevated risk of common and rare infections — a concerning risk factor in the age of covid-19. “from 2000 to 2015 the overall rate of hospitalization from infections in u.s. adults rose significantly, especially in people with diabetes,” researchers wrote in the study .

despite this, few studies have taken a large-scale look at how these rates of infection hospitalization — and their outcomes — differ between diabetics and non-diabetics in the general population over time. to address this, researchers used data from the atherosclerosis risk in communities (aric) study to identify a group of 12,379 u.s. participants who underwent clinical examinations and other lab tests between 1987 and 1989 and then returned for seven follow-ups that stretched into 2019.

related stories

opinion: pandemic is changing the face of diabetes
canadians with diabetes who face various types of economic and social marginalization disproportionately suffer secondary impacts of the pandemic.
factors such as sex, gender, age, race and ethnicity play a role in how stress impacted people living with diabetes. getty

insomnia and diabetes up risk of early death: study
sleep problems should be taken just as seriously as other health risk factors, say researchers.
poor sleep is known to be unhealthy, but diabetes adds an additional risk.

advertisement

the group, which was 54.3 per cent female and 24.7 per cent black, had a mean age of 54.5. researchers had access to detailed lifestyle and demographic data, including age, sex, race, location of study centre, health insurance status, household income and education level. the aric study also contained information on patient hospitalization that allowed researchers to include only those medical interventions that arose from an infection — particularly those associated with diabetes, such as those of the foot, respiratory system or urinary tract.
over a period of 23.8 years, researchers identified 4,229 relevant trips to the hospital for infection and found people with diabetes faced an increased risk (25.4 per cent) compared to non-diabetics (15.2 per cent). once they adjusted for socioeconomic factors, researchers concluded that diabetics had an infection hospitalization rate 93 per cent higher than those without the disease and a mortality risk that was 72 per cent greater.
the findings show infection prevention has never been more important, researchers said, particularly amid the emergence of covid-19, which has an outsized impact on those with the disease. “diabetes was independently associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for infection,” they wrote. “this association was observed across most major types of infection and was more pronounced for younger people and black people. the increased risk of hospitalization for infection associated with diabetes was observed across major types of infections but was especially robust for foot infections.
powered by
diabetes canada

advertisement

“the risk of infection mortality was increased also for those with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. more comprehensive clinical guidance to improve infection-related preventive measures and early treatment of infection may reduce related morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes.”

dave yasvinski is a writer with   healthing.ca

for more information on diabetes, support or to connect with other patients, visit diabetes canada.
dave yasvinski
dave yasvinski
read more about the author

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

you may also like
profile picture of sonia yung, board chair for diabetes canada. middle aged woman
opinion: the time has come to address and erase stigma surrounding diabetes
doctors team diagnose patient x-ray radiography film, asian medical concept
how a diabetes drug is making chemotherapy more effective against lung cancer
young man giving himself an insulin shot at home.
world’s first weekly insulin injection available in canada: what this means for diabetes patients 
profile picture of middle aged man dr. pere santamaria
leaders in health: dr. pere santamaria and 'finding new pathways' to treat autoimmune diseases
black woman with diabetes uses a smart insulin pen to monitor and control her blood sugar levels, automatically recording the dose of insulin administered which helps manage the health condition.
top diabetes associations in canada: finding the right organization and resources for you
you may also like
profile picture of sonia yung, board chair for diabetes canada. middle aged woman
opinion: the time has come to address and erase stigma surrounding diabetes
doctors team diagnose patient x-ray radiography film, asian medical concept
how a diabetes drug is making chemotherapy more effective against lung cancer
young man giving himself an insulin shot at home.
world’s first weekly insulin injection available in canada: what this means for diabetes patients 
profile picture of middle aged man dr. pere santamaria
leaders in health: dr. pere santamaria and 'finding new pathways' to treat autoimmune diseases
you may also like
profile picture of sonia yung, board chair for diabetes canada. middle aged woman
opinion: the time has come to address and erase stigma surrounding diabetes
doctors team diagnose patient x-ray radiography film, asian medical concept
how a diabetes drug is making chemotherapy more effective against lung cancer