Diabetics at Earlier Risk of Heart Disease

Most health experts agree that people with diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) regardless of their age. Now, new research published in medical journal The Lancet shows that diabetes puts people at risk of CVD at a much earlier age than non-diabetic people.

The researchers found that those people with diabetes moved into the high-risk category for CVD about 15 years earlier than those without diabetes – at the age of 48 for men and 41 for women. However, people under the age of 40 didn’t seem to have an increased risk.

Dr Gillian Booth, one of the researchers says, “Middle aged and older people with diabetes seem, on average, to be at high risk of heart disease, thus aggressive risk-reduction strategies are warranted for them.”

WLR says:

Diabetes currently affects 1.9 million people in the UK – and it’s estimated there are another 600,000 people who have not yet been diagnosed. Being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and CVD. If you want to reduce your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, it’s important to take action and shift those pounds if you need to.

Read how Weight Loss Resources' member, Jules reversed his diabetes