A new study brings hope to people with type 2 diabetes who are at higher risk for heart problems.
It found that taking low-dose aspirin may help reduce the chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or even dying from any cause. The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in 2025.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that affects how the body processes sugar. It’s also known to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Aspirin, a blood thinner, has long been used to prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. However, experts have been unsure if it works for people who haven’t already had a heart problem.
This new research focused on over 11,500 adults with type 2 diabetes who were at moderate to high risk of having a heart issue. The researchers looked at medical records from the past ten years to see how often people took low-dose aspirin and whether it made a difference in their health.
They found that people who regularly took low-dose aspirin were much less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die from any cause compared to those who didn’t take aspirin. The benefit was strongest in people who took aspirin consistently over time.
Specifically, 42.4% of aspirin users had heart attacks compared to 61.2% of non-users. Stroke was also less common (14.5% vs. 24.8%), and death from any cause was lower too (33% vs. 50.7%). These numbers suggest that aspirin might play an important role in protecting people with diabetes from serious health problems.
The researchers also looked at blood sugar control and how well people followed their medication plans. Even people whose diabetes was not perfectly controlled still saw benefits from aspirin, but the benefits were bigger in those with better-controlled blood sugar levels.
It’s important to note that this study only looked at past data. It was not a clinical trial where people are randomly chosen to take a drug or not. This means the findings cannot prove that aspirin caused the better outcomes, only that there is a strong link.
Also, the study did not track bleeding problems, which is one of the main risks of taking aspirin regularly. People with higher bleeding risk were excluded from the research, but bleeding is still a concern when using aspirin long-term.
Even though aspirin is not currently recommended for all people with diabetes who have never had heart problems, this study suggests it might help certain people. More research is needed to know for sure who should take aspirin and who should avoid it.
Doctors will need to consider each person’s health, risks, and benefits before deciding on aspirin use. This study also raises questions about how aspirin might work with new diabetes and heart medications like GLP-1 drugs or advanced cholesterol treatments.
In conclusion, while aspirin isn’t for everyone, this study shows it may offer strong protection for people with diabetes who are at risk for heart problems—especially if used consistently and under medical guidance. Always talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medication.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
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