When people talk about how to stay healthy with type 2 diabetes, the advice is often simple: eat healthier, exercise more, and control your blood sugar.
But a new study shows that there may be more to worry about—especially when it comes to sudden cardiac arrest, a serious condition where the heart suddenly stops beating.
The study was presented at a recent diabetes conference in Hamburg, Germany. It focused on people with type 2 diabetes, which is a condition where the body cannot use insulin properly.
These people already face about twice the risk of sudden cardiac arrest compared to those without diabetes. But researchers wanted to know if there are other hidden risks.
Peter Harms and his research team in the Netherlands looked at the health records of nearly 4,000 people with type 2 diabetes in a region called Noord-Holland. Of these people, 689 had a sudden cardiac arrest between 2010 and 2019.
To understand why this happened, the researchers compared the medical records of people who had a cardiac arrest with those who didn’t. They looked at data from the five years before each event, including test results and medications.
One big surprise was the link between some common medicines and sudden cardiac arrest. The study found that some drugs, like antibiotics for infections and antipsychotics for mental health, were connected to a higher risk. So were medications used for nausea and stomach problems.
These drugs can change the way the heart beats. They can slow down the heart’s ability to reset between beats, making it more likely to stop suddenly. Examples include macrolide antibiotics and a mental health drug called haloperidol.
These medicines can still be useful, but they may carry hidden dangers for people with type 2 diabetes. That’s why it’s important to talk with your doctor about all the medications you take, not just the ones for diabetes.
Another unexpected finding was about low blood sugar. While many believe that lower blood sugar is always better, the study found that very low fasting blood sugar raised the risk of sudden cardiac arrest by 150%. This was especially true for people who had no history of heart disease.
This challenges the idea that lower is always better when it comes to blood sugar. Trying too hard to keep blood sugar very low might be dangerous for some people.
The study also looked at people who already had heart problems. It found that kidney problems—shown by protein in the urine (called albuminuria)—were linked to higher risk. Heart failure also made sudden cardiac arrest more likely.
So what should people with type 2 diabetes do?
It’s still important to manage blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. But this study shows that being too aggressive with sugar control might not be best. A balanced and careful approach is safer.
Also, check your medications. If you take drugs for infections, mental health, or stomach problems, talk to your doctor. There may be safer choices or ways to lower the risk.
Finally, keep an eye on your kidneys. A simple urine test can show if your kidneys are under stress, and your doctor can help if there’s a problem.
This study gives doctors and patients a fuller picture of what it means to live with type 2 diabetes. It shows that risks to the heart can come from unexpected places. Being aware of these risks can help people make better decisions.
In the end, managing diabetes is not just about sugar. It’s about taking care of your whole body and staying informed so you can live a longer and healthier life.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes, and these vegetables could protect against kidney damage in diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about bone drug that could lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing eating more eggs linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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