June 11, 2007 (Insidermedicine) Preventing diabetes could add years to a persons life, say researchers in a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The prevalence of obesity, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet has led to a dramatic increase in diabetes, especially in people over 50. By 2000, there were more than 170 million people with diabetes in the world, and this number is expected to double in 25 years. Research has shown that people with diabetes have a 2-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which alone kills more Americans than cancer. However, there is limited information about the association of diabetes with life expectancy. In the present study, researchers studied more than 5,200 men and women age 28 to 62 for more than 46 years. They were assessed for diabetes and cardiovascular disease at 12-year intervals. It was found that women with diabetes had more than double the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Diabetic men also had more than double the risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to non-diabetic men, and a 1.7 times higher risk of dying when they had cardiovascular disease. Among those 50 and older, diabetic men lived an average of 7.5 years less than men without diabetes, and diabetes reduced womens life expectancy by about 8 years. The greater life expectancy among people without diabetes was largely attributed to the number of years lived without cardiovascular disease. These findings stress the need for global strategies to reduce the risk factors for diabetes by promoting a more healthy approach to diet and exercise. Preventive measures will not only allow people to live longer, healthier lives, but will also significantly reduce healthcare costs.

Reporting for Insidermedicine, I’m Dr. Susan Sharma.