A new study, which appears in the latest edition of European Journal of Endocrinology uncovers a worrying association: people who have any form of diabetes are more likely to die by suicide, causes related to alcohol consumption, or due to an accident.

Both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes place people at a heightened risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, as well as cancer and kidney disease. All of these related health conditions can lead to premature death. However, other factors may also shorten the lifespan of people with a diabetes diagnosis. People with diabetes are prone to depression, and this also could be a contributing factor. Researchers from Finland conducted a large population study investigating the relationship between diabetes and the risk of death due to factors such as alcohol, suicide, and accidents.

In the new study, Prof. Leo Niskanen and colleagues suggest that the mental health issues that may come to accompany a diagnosis of diabetes may also be the culprits behind the higher risk of death due to suicide, alcohol, or accidents.

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