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Raised blood sugar levels linked with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases

10 August 2023
Analysis of data from 427,435 people shows even below the threshold for diabetes people with high blood sugar have increased risk of heart and circulation problems with women at greater risk than men
“We quantified differences in the risk of heart disease between men and women across the full range of blood sugar levels.” Dr Christopher Rentsch, Associate Professor, LSH

Men and women with raised blood sugar levels have 30-50% greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases even when these levels are below the threshold for diabetes, a new study has shown.

The study, led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and University College London (UCL), also found that, among people diagnosed with diabetes, women’s higher relative risk of developing any cardiovascular disease (CVD) than men disappeared once modifiable factors such as body measurements and medication use were taken into account.

The researchers discovered evidence that for blood sugar levels within the ‘normal’ range, it was a case of ‘the lower the better’ in protecting against CVDs. Compared to people with normal blood sugar levels, those with the lowest levels had a 10% lower risk of developing any form of CVD. On the other hand, men with raised blood sugar below the threshold for diabetes had a 30% greater risk of developing CVDs and women with raised blood sugar below the threshold for diabetes had between 30-50% greater risk of developing CVDs. The risks were as much as doubled in those with diagnosed diabetes.

The study analysed UK Biobank data from 427,435 UK individuals (54.2% women, 45.8% men) across the glycaemic spectrum, including people with blood sugar levels within a ‘normal’ range, those with prediabetes, and those with diabetes. The research is published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe.

Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation which part-funded the research, said: “This large study adds to what we know about the association between consistently elevated blood sugar levels and an increased risk of heart and circulatory diseases. However, it’s important to note that this can’t be applied to type 1 diabetes as people with the condition weren’t included in the analysis.

“As well as keeping your blood sugar levels in check, it’s important to look at your lifestyle as a whole to ward off future heart problems. Try to embrace a healthy lifestyle by eating well balanced meals, getting regular physical activity, and stopping smoking. Keeping tabs on risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases – including keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol at a healthy level and controlling your weight – can all help to reduce your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases in the future.

“If you’re aged 40–74 you can ask for an NHS health check in England, and similar schemes are available in other parts of the UK. This can tell you whether you're at higher risk of developing heart and circulatory disease and help you identify and address all relevant risk factors.”

Dr Lucy Chambers, Head of Research Communications at Diabetes UK, said: “Every week, diabetes leads to more than 770 strokes, 590 heart attacks and 2,300 cases of heart failure, and we know women are at particular risk of poor outcomes. This important new research, co-funded by Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation, highlights strategies that could tackle sex-based inequalities in cardiovascular disease outcomes, including greater use of antihypertensive and statin medication in women.