At a major diabetes conference in Hamburg, Germany, researchers shared important findings about the serious risks faced by people with type 2 diabetes. One of the most alarming is a much higher chance of sudden cardiac arrest—a life-threatening event where the heart suddenly stops beating.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death around the world. It can happen with little to no warning and is often fatal within minutes if not treated immediately. For people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the risk of having an SCA is about twice as high as for people without the condition.
A research team led by Peter Harms from Amsterdam UMC wanted to find out what factors in a person’s medical records might help predict this deadly risk. They studied 3,919 people with T2D and found that 689 of them had suffered from SCA.
To understand the patterns better, they compared these individuals with 3,230 others who also had diabetes but had not experienced SCA. The two groups were matched for age, sex, and the same family doctors to keep the comparison fair.
The researchers found that several things made it more likely for someone with T2D to have an SCA. These included having heart rhythm problems in the past, taking insulin, and using medications that affect heart rhythm, like certain stomach medicines called prokinetics.
People whose smoking status was not clearly recorded also had a higher risk, possibly because their smoking habits were overlooked during medical visits.
In patients who already had some form of heart disease, the risk was even higher if they also had kidney damage or heart failure. But what really stood out in the study was that not all risks were the usual suspects like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Surprisingly, some people with lower blood sugar levels—usually seen as a good thing—were also more at risk. This shows that trying to keep blood sugar too low might sometimes backfire, especially if done too aggressively or without close medical monitoring.
The use of certain medications also raised red flags. Some common drugs, including specific antibiotics and antipsychotic medications, were linked to a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. These are medications that are often prescribed without fully considering how they might affect the heart, especially in people who already have health problems like diabetes.
These findings are a wake-up call for doctors and patients alike. They show that managing type 2 diabetes isn’t just about lowering blood sugar levels. It’s about looking at the whole picture—heart health, kidney function, the choice of medications, and overall risk.
Doctors, especially general practitioners (GPs), are encouraged to be more aware of how different factors in a diabetic patient’s life and treatment plan can combine to increase their risk of sudden heart problems. With this knowledge, they can create safer, more personalized treatment strategies.
This research is a big step forward in helping doctors spot and manage heart risks in people with diabetes before it’s too late. It also highlights the need for more careful use of medications and more balanced blood sugar goals.
For people with T2D, it’s a reminder that regular checkups, open conversations with their doctors, and a full understanding of their health risks can make a life-saving difference.
This study clearly shows that sudden cardiac arrest is a serious but often overlooked risk for people with type 2 diabetes. While many doctors focus on controlling blood sugar, this research reveals that blood sugar is only part of the story. Risks come from a mix of heart problems, kidney issues, medications, and even overly tight blood sugar control.
The message is simple: diabetes care needs to be more personalized. Doctors should look beyond standard checklists and consider how everything from prescriptions to past health history could affect the patient’s heart. This could help prevent unexpected tragedies and lead to better, longer lives for those living with diabetes.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about why blood sugar is high in the morning, and how to cook sweet potatoes without increasing blood sugar.
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