Diabetes can kill you 8 to 11 years earlier than average. Interestingly, diabetic women seem to live longer than their male counterparts.
Diabetes has a negative impact on quality of life as well as the lifespan. According to a 2010 study, a 50-year old diabetic will live for approximately 8.5 years fewer than a non-diabetic individual of the same age. Interestingly, the reduction in lifespan is below 6 years for patients who are 60 years old or above.
In another study published in 2015, the researchers found that the loss of life years due to diabetes is 11.1 years. The three major causes of death are ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetic coma and kidney failure.
How Diabetes Affects Longevity?
Diabetes does not kill you instantly. Instead, it impairs various body functions and ultimately leads to death due to subsequent complications. The primary factors that significantly cut off life years in a diabetic are:
- High blood glucose levels: When the blood glucose levels go haywire persistently, it damages many vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and brain.
- High blood pressure: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests 71 percent of diabetics also suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension can lead to other conditions such as kidney disease, strokes, and heart diseases.
- Increased fats in the blood. According to the ADA, up to 65 percent of diabetics have high levels of “bad cholesterol” (LDL) and low levels of “good cholesterol” (HDL) in their blood. Together, such imbalance increases the risk of the diseases that affect blood vessels.
- Smoking and diabetes form a killer combination. In addition to boosting the risk of diabetic complications, smoking alone may also lead to death by cancer.
What You Can Do to Live Longer
Your lifestyle choices greatly impact the effects of the disease on your life. Here are some tips on how to live longer with diabetes.
- Check your blood glucose levels regularly. That way, you will know when it’s the right time to visit your doctor.
- Take your medications as directed by your doctor.
- Quit smoking if you are a smoker.
- Take a healthy diet and stay active.
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- The JAMA Network. URL Link. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- Walk-In Lab. URL Link. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- Vnitr Lek. URL Link. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
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