At the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Hamburg, Germany, new research brought attention to an important health risk for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
The study highlighted that individuals with T2D are at a significantly higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating.
SCA is one of the leading causes of death globally, especially in developed countries.
People with T2D face about twice the risk of SCA compared to those without diabetes. To better understand this danger, a research team led by Peter Harms from Amsterdam UMC studied 3,919 people with type 2 diabetes.
Among them, 689 had experienced SCA. These patients were compared with 3,230 similar individuals who had not suffered SCA. The comparison was carefully matched based on age, sex, and their general practitioner (GP) records.
The study found several key risk factors for SCA in people with diabetes. These included a history of heart rhythm problems, unclear smoking status in medical records, use of insulin, and certain medications that can affect heart rhythms—especially those that prolong the QTc interval on an ECG, such as prokinetic drugs.
For patients who already had heart disease, the presence of other conditions like moderate to severe kidney damage and heart failure further increased their risk of SCA. These findings show how multiple health issues can combine to raise the chances of a dangerous heart event.
Interestingly, the research also showed that some less obvious factors might contribute to the risk. Lower fasting blood sugar levels and the use of specific medications, such as some antipsychotics and antibiotics, were also linked to a higher chance of SCA.
This is a crucial point because strict blood sugar control and the use of these common medicines might not always be recognized as risky by general practitioners.
The results of this study suggest that managing type 2 diabetes should go beyond just controlling blood sugar. Doctors need to be aware of the wide range of health issues and medications that could raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
By taking a broader and more personalized approach, healthcare providers can help prevent this life-threatening condition in people living with diabetes.
This study is an important reminder for both doctors and patients. It shows that heart health needs to be a major focus when treating type 2 diabetes. More awareness and careful planning could save lives by lowering the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in this vulnerable group.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
