Type 2 Diabetes Accelerates Progression of Multiple Chronic Diseases, New Research Finds

Recent findings presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Vienna highlight the significant role of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the rapid development of multiple chronic conditions. The study emphasizes that individuals with T2D experience faster progression through various disease stages, especially in the early years of life. Lead researcher Dr. Jie Zhang from the Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus in Denmark explained that patients with T2D showed a markedly quicker transition to additional health issues compared to those without the condition.

This accelerated disease progression was evident across all age groups, with the most pronounced effects observed among middle-aged adults. The research underscores T2D as a major contributor to multimorbidity, which includes conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and depression, thereby significantly increasing the global burden of chronic illnesses.

The study analyzed data from 502,368 UK Biobank participants, averaging 58 years old at enrollment, with about 46% being male. Over an average follow-up of 15 years, researchers tracked health outcomes and the emergence of 80 long-term conditions. Importantly, 9.5% of participants developed T2D during this period.

Using advanced statistical models, the researchers compared the rates at which individuals with T2D and those without developed additional diseases after already having certain chronic conditions. Results showed that for individuals with two pre-existing conditions, those with T2D progressed to a third condition at a rate of 5.7% annually, compared to only 3.5% among those without T2D—a 60% higher risk.

Additionally, younger individuals with T2D (ages 40–55) were found to accumulate diseases faster than their older counterparts. Dr. Zhang emphasized the importance of early intervention to slow down the progression of multimorbidity in these populations. The study also highlighted that the link between T2D and disease progression diminishes as the number of conditions increases, indicating that early stages of T2D are particularly critical.

Recognized limitations include the reliance on baseline risk factor assessments and potential detection bias since T2D patients undergo more frequent medical monitoring, which could lead to earlier diagnosis of comorbidities. The authors also noted that the UK Biobank sample may not fully represent the general population due to healthier and more educated participants. Future research is needed to uncover the biological mechanisms driving these associations.

This study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted strategies in managing T2D, especially during midlife, to prevent rapid health deterioration and improve long-term outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-diabetes-multiple-chronic-diseases.html