Living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) may double the risk of developing sepsis—with younger adults and men being particularly vulnerable, according to a new long-term community-based study in Australia.
The findings were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna.
Lead author Professor Wendy Davis from the University of Western Australia said the study confirmed a strong relationship between T2D and sepsis, even after accounting for several risk factors.
Sepsis is a severe, potentially fatal condition triggered by an overreaction to infection, leading to organ failure.
The study emphasizes the need to quit smoking, control blood sugar, and prevent diabetes complications as the best ways to reduce the risk of sepsis.
Researchers analyzed data from 1,430 adults with T2D and 5,720 matched individuals without diabetes, followed for around 10 years. At the start, 2% of people with T2D had a history of sepsis-related hospitalization, compared to just 0.8% in the non-diabetic group.
During follow-up, 11.8% of the T2D group developed sepsis, compared to only 5.0% of the matched participants. After adjusting for factors like age, sex, and chronic conditions, people with T2D were found to have twice the risk of developing sepsis.
Worse Risk for Younger People and Indigenous Australians
In those aged 41–50 years, having T2D was linked to a 14.5 times greater risk of sepsis. Additional risk factors among people with T2D included being male, Aboriginal, a current smoker, insulin use, high blood sugar, nerve damage, stroke, and heart disease markers.
For example, Indigenous Australians with T2D were three times more likely to develop sepsis, while smoking increased sepsis risk by 83% in people with diabetes.
High blood sugar may impair immune function, and people with diabetes are more prone to infections like UTIs, pneumonia, and skin infections—common precursors to sepsis. Diabetes complications like nerve damage and blood vessel disease also likely increase the risk.
This study underlines the importance of managing type 2 diabetes, especially among younger adults, to reduce the risk of serious infections like sepsis. Simple lifestyle changes like stopping smoking and improving blood sugar control could make a big difference.
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