Diabetes & Arterial Disease: New Trends
Diabetes risk is shifting. New research reveals heart attack and stroke risks are down, while peripheral arterial disease is now a greater concern for those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This News Directory 3 report, based on studies from the University of Gothenburg using two decades of Swedish National Diabetes Register data, highlights the changing landscape of arterial disease. discover how better blood sugar control and lower “bad” cholesterol can significantly reduce risks. Uncover the key role long-term blood sugar plays in peripheral arterial disease, differing from its impact on central arteries. learn the latest disease trends and what strategies are being developed to manage cardiometabolic risk factors. Discover what’s next in diabetes care.
Diabetes Risk Shifts: Peripheral Arterial Disease Concerns
Updated June 13, 2025
Research from teh University of gothenburg indicates a change in the landscape of arterial disease risk for individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. While the risks of heart attack and stroke have notably decreased, complications affecting peripheral vessels are on the rise.
The studies,featured in The Lancet Regional Health – europe,examined two decades of data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register. Researchers analyzed trends in peripheral arterial diseases, the impact of modifiable risk factors, and optimal levels for cardiometabolic risk factors.
The research encompassed 34,263 individuals with type 1 diabetes and 655,250 with type 2 diabetes, alongside a control group of 2,676,227 individuals without diabetes. The team investigated complications such as carotid artery calcification, abdominal aorta calcification, peripheral blood vessel issues in the lower extremities, and small vessel disease in the feet.
Although most complications decreased over the study period, the relative risk shifted from central arterial diseases to peripheral vessel complications.The findings suggest that better management of blood sugar and blood pressure could significantly reduce the risk of several peripheral arterial complications in type 1 diabetes patients by 30% to 50%.
For type 2 diabetes, the research highlighted the role of ”bad” cholesterol in carotid artery calcification and the benefit of lower triglyceride levels in reducing peripheral arterial disease risk. Long-term blood sugar emerged as a critical marker for peripheral arterial disease in both types of diabetes, differing from its impact on central arterial disease.
Our results reveal the potential for an even greater risk reduction for future events by maintaining lower levels of cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly early and intensive control of long-term blood sugar,” said Aidin Rawshani, a researcher at the University of Gothenburg.
Rawshani added that the study revealed differences in how cardiometabolic risk factors affect various parts of the arterial system, with long-term blood sugar playing a more significant role in peripheral arterial disease.
| Disease | Type 1 Diabetes (2001) | Type 1 Diabetes (2020) | Type 2 Diabetes (2001) | Type 2 Diabetes (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carotid Artery Calcification | 296 | 84 | 170 | 84 |
| Aneurysm | 40 | 69 | Slight increase | Slight increase |
| Abdominal Aorta Calcification | 723 | 311 | 338 | 190 |
| Small Vessel Disease (Lower Extremities) | 814 | 77 | 309 | 226 |
What’s next
Future research will likely focus on refining strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk factors to further reduce the burden of peripheral arterial disease in individuals with diabetes. Early and intensive control of long-term blood sugar remains a key target for intervention.