People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at a significantly higher risk of developing sepsis — a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction of the body to infection. This was reported in a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna.
An analysis of data from more than 7,000 volunteers showed that over 10 years of follow-up, sepsis developed in 11.8% of participants with diabetes, compared to 5.0% of their peers without the disease. Even after adjusting for age, sex, and other risk factors, the presence of diabetes was linked to a twofold increase in the likelihood of developing sepsis.
The most vulnerable group proved to be men under 60. Among those aged 41–50 with T2D, the risk of sepsis was 14.5 times higher than in their non-diabetic peers. Other high-risk groups included smokers, patients with diabetes complications, individuals with high blood sugar, and those with cardiovascular or nervous system disorders.
Among descendants of Australia’s Indigenous peoples with diabetes, the risk of sepsis was found to be three times higher, while smoking increased the risk by 83%.
According to the researchers, elevated blood glucose levels negatively affect the body’s immune defenses and contribute to infections — such as urinary tract infections, skin infections, or pneumonia — which can progress to sepsis. Diabetes is also associated with vascular and nervous system pathologies, further increasing the likelihood of severe complications.
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