A new study has shed light on a link between type 2 diabetes and the risk of developing sepsis.
Presented at the annual meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, the research suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes may be at a higher risk of developing sepsis, with certain demographic groups being particularly vulnerable.
The study, part of the long-term community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II, was led by Professor Wendy Davis from the University of Western Australia.
Researchers undertook a decade-long observational study, comparing a cohort of 1430 adults with type 2 diabetes against a control group of 5720 individuals without the condition.
The presence of type 2 diabetes appeared to more than double the risk of sepsis, in which the body’s overwhelming response to an infection can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
The data revealed a contrast between the two groups from the outset.
At the beginning of the study, 2% of the diabetes group had a prior history of sepsis compared to just 0.8% of the non-diabetes group.
This disparity became more pronounced over the course of the study, as 11.8% of the people with diabetes developed sepsis, compared to 5% of the control group.
A link between sepsis and diabetes was also highlighted in a recent report by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) which analysed more than 900,000 sepsis-related hospital admissions in public hospitals between 2013-14 and 2022-23.
The findings showed that of those patients admitted to hospital with sepsis, more than a third of those patients also had diabetes.
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The UWA research delved further into the specific risk factors that may elevate the danger of sepsis within the diabetic population.
The research identified several factors independently associated with a higher risk, including older age, being male, Aboriginal ancestry, and current smoking.
Other clinical indicators also played a significant role, such as the use of insulin, elevated fasting glucose levels, and the presence of other chronic medical conditions.
While the study is observational and therefore cannot definitively establish a cause-and-effect relationship, it provides insights into the potential biological mechanisms at play.
It suggested one of the most plausible explanations for the heightened risk was the compromised immune function often associated with elevated blood sugar levels.
Hyperglycaemia can impair the body’s ability to fight off infections, making it easier for a common infection to escalate into a full-blown case of sepsis.
Additionally, people with diabetes are already known to be more susceptible to certain types of infections, which in turn increases their chances of developing sepsis.
As the researchers noted, several of the identified risk factors – such as smoking and high blood sugar levels – were modifiable.
“Our study identifies several modifiable risk factors, including smoking, high blood sugar, and complications of diabetes, underscoring that there are steps individuals can take to potentially lower their risk of sepsis,” said Professor Davis.
“The best way to prevent sepsis is to quit smoking, normalise high blood sugar, and prevent the onset of the micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. That’s why this study is important.”
By effectively managing blood glucose levels, quitting smoking, and addressing other chronic conditions, people with type 2 diabetes may be able to significantly reduce their risk of developing sepsis.
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