Type 1 and type 2 diabetes life expectancy differences

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes life expectancy differences

Life expectancy is the number of years a person is expected to live.1 Broadly speaking, a person with diabetes may have a shorter life expectancy than a person without diabetes.1,2,3 However, life expectancy is influenced by several other factors as well as a diabetes diagnosis.

Life expectancy figures are statistical averages that experts use to analyse data, understand trends and create public health policies.4 They’re worked out using complex mathematical formulas.4 Still, it’s important to remember that mathematical formulas don’t always capture the complexity of real, lived experiences. 

What’s more, the life expectancies often cited in academic studies are affected by various risk factors.1,2 Many of these are modifiable, meaning you have control over them and can change how they impact your lifespan. 

But what exactly are the average life expectancies of people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes? Let's take a look at the statistics, explore the factors affecting them and find practical tips to help you live a longer life with diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) condition that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively.5 This leads to the hallmark of diabetes: high blood glucose.5 

Over time, if left untreated, high blood glucose can cause a range of complications, many of which are life-threatening.5 Conditions such as heart disease and kidney disease, along with complications like lower limb amputation, can affect a person’s life expectancy.2,5,6 However, by being vigilant, and with the right diabetes management, you can delay or even prevent these serious complications.5

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks its own insulin-producing cells.5 Type 1 diabetes is typically identified in childhood, but a diagnosis is possible at any age.5

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for over 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide.5

In type 2 diabetes, the body first develops an increased tolerance to insulin, a condition called insulin resistance.5 Over time, insulin is used less and less effectively.5 As the body struggles to produce enough of it, blood glucose levels spike.5

Type 1 diabetes life expectancy

The typical life expectancy for people with type 1 diabetes is 10–12 years lower than that of people without the condition.2 A recent, large study using data from a Swedish population found that the average life expectancy for people with type 1 diabetes was:6

• 69.8 for men
• 71.9 years for women

But, it’s important to remember this is just an average, and individuals have different life expectancies based on their own specific risk factors, like age, body mass index (BMI) and blood glucose management.2

How risk factors might affect a person’s lifespan

Being a smoker, having a higher BMI and not managing blood glucose levels well can all reduce the lifespan of a person with type 1 diabetes.2 

On the plus side, improving these risk factors can prolong life. A large international study found that reducing HbA1C levels from 108 mmol/mol (12%) to 42 mmol/mol (6%), for example, can add 5 years to a young man’s life expectancy.2 

The same study found that lowering blood glucose, combined with quitting smoking, lowering BMI and improving kidney health, can add 13.2 years to a person’s lifespan.2 However, we can’t be completely sure that changing these risk factors would actually cause people to live longer.2

Type 2 diabetes life expectancy

Type 2 diabetes life expectancy

Some studies have previously estimated that people with type 2 diabetes live, on average, 6 years less than their peers without the condition.7 With the right treatment and lifestyle changes, however, a person with type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk of complications and live longer.1,5,8 

Age at diagnosis may also play a role.7 One study found that the later in life a person develops type 2 diabetes, the closer their life expectancy will be to that of a person without the condition.7 For example, the average life expectancy for someone diagnosed at age 40 may be 10 years shorter than that of a person without diabetes, while at age 60, it is roughly 3-4 years less.7 More studies, involving more participants from various ethnic and racial groups, are needed to fully understand the effects of type 2 diabetes on life expectancy.

How life expectancies might vary geographically

It’s also important to note that average life expectancies vary greatly from country to country. For example, among high-income countries, the highest life expectancies for people with type 2 diabetes were found in Japan:3

• 79.2 years for men
• 84.1 years for women

In contrast, the lowest life expectancy for men with type 2 diabetes was found in Lithuania (63.7 years), while the lowest life expectancy for women was found in Latvia (74.2 years).

Why do people with diabetes have a shorter life expectancy?

Typically, people with diabetes have a shorter life expectancy than those without the condition because diabetes raises the risk of various complications.8 These complications may include:5

• Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke
• Nerve damage 
• Kidney damage
• Eye damage and vision loss
• In extreme cases, lower-limb amputation

It’s important to remember that these complications can be delayed or avoided altogether with appropriate diabetes management and treatment.5

How can I increase my life expectancy while living with diabetes?

You could significantly extend your life by managing your diabetes through lifestyle changes and following your treatment plan, all with support from your diabetes care team.5 Specifically, you can increase your life expectancy by:1,5,8

• Maintaining a healthy weight 
• Managing your blood glucose and keeping it in range 
• Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within a healthy range
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a well-balanced diet 
• Quitting smoking or choosing not to start

While diabetes can impact lifespan, the positive changes mentioned above can enhance longevity. With the right treatment and effective management of their condition, people with diabetes can lead long, fulfilling lives, free from complications.