A new international study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has shown that in people with elevated blood sugar levels who have not yet reached the threshold for diabetes, a nearly twofold reduction in glucose levels is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The analysis combined data from several large prospective studies involving tens of thousands of adults from different countries.

Researchers measured blood glucose levels and tracked the development of cardiovascular outcomes—such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure—over several years of follow-up. They then compared the risk of these conditions among people with different blood sugar levels.

The results showed that individuals whose glucose levels were at the upper end of the normal range had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those whose blood sugar levels were substantially lower. At the same time, a nearly twofold reduction in glucose levels (that is, a substantial decrease in blood sugar concentration, though not necessarily to diabetic levels) was associated with a marked reduction in the risk of cardiovascular complications. This effect remained robust even after adjustment for factors such as age, sex, body mass index, and lifestyle habits.

The study authors emphasize that these findings are particularly important for people with “prediabetic” status—when blood sugar levels are elevated but have not yet crossed the threshold for a diagnosis of diabetes.

Early intervention and lifestyle modification—including physical activity, dietary changes, and weight loss—can contribute to a significant reduction in blood sugar levels and thereby lower the risk of heart disease.

The researchers believe that understanding the relationship between glucose levels and cardiovascular risk should encourage earlier and more proactive intervention, even in individuals who have not yet received an official diagnosis of diabetes. They stress that using blood sugar levels as a marker not only for diabetes but also for assessing cardiovascular risk could improve preventive medicine and reduce the global burden of heart disease.