Outlook

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in all industrialized nations. Overall, the risk of premature death of people with diabetes is twice that of people who do not have diabetes. Prognosis depends on the type of diabetes, degree of blood sugar control, and development of complications.

Type 1 diabetes

About 15% of people with type 1 diabetes die before age 40 years, which is about 20 times the rate of that age group in the general population.

• The most common causes of death in type 1 diabetes are diabetic ketoacidosis, kidney failure, and heart disease.
  
  
• The good news is that prognosis can be improved with good blood sugar control. Maintaining tight blood sugar control has been proven to prevent, slow the progression of, and even improve established complications of type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

The life expectancy of people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in their 40s decreases by 5-10 years because of the disease.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
• Excellent glycemic control, tight blood pressure control, and keeping the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) level at the recommended level of <100 mg/dL (or lower, particularly if other risk factors for cardiovascular disease are present) and the "good" (HDL) cholesterol as high as possible. Use of aspirin when indicated can prevent, slow the progression of, and improve established complications in diabetes.