History of Diabetes

This website is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice.

Summary

A personal diagnosis of diabetes is consistently linked to higher all-cause mortality, mainly through cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and infections.
Prediabetes is usually linked to a smaller increase in all-cause mortality than diabetes, but it is still a warning sign.
Having close relatives with diabetes usually does not directly increase mortality on its own; it mainly increases the chance that you will develop diabetes.
Earlier age at diabetes onset is typically linked to higher lifetime risk because the body is exposed to high blood sugar for longer.

This factor describes whether a person has ever had a diagnosis of diabetes (personal history).
It may also include whether a person has a close relative (first-degree relative such as parent, sibling, child) with diabetes (family history).
Personal diabetes history is usually measured by self-report (answering a question) or by confirmed medical record/diagnosis.
Family history is usually measured by self-report (what you know about your relatives), so it can be incomplete or uncertain.
Related lab measurements (like HbA1c or fasting glucose) are different factors and are not the same as a diagnosis or family history.

Diabetes diagnosis is consistently associated with higher all-cause mortality, often reported as hazard ratios roughly in the range of about 1.13 to 2.0 compared with people without diabetes.
Prediabetes is usually associated with a smaller increase in all-cause mortality (often around 10% to 20% higher risk vs normal glucose).
Younger age at diabetes onset is typically linked to higher mortality risk over a lifetime.

Cardiovascular pathway: diabetes increases atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk (heart attack, stroke), which are major causes of death.
Kidney pathway: diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease, which raises mortality risk directly and through cardiovascular complications.
Infection pathway: diabetes can impair immune function and is associated with higher risk of severe infections.
Complications and comorbidities (for example, kidney disease, diabetic foot problems, and depression) can independently raise mortality risk.

Family history strongly predicts a higher chance of developing diabetes.
The mortality impact is mostly indirect: family history matters mainly because it increases diabetes risk, and diabetes is the condition linked to higher mortality.

Several studies suggest that excellent control of major cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, smoking) can greatly reduce the excess mortality risk, especially in people without existing cardiovascular disease.

Age at onset: earlier-onset diabetes is commonly associated with higher lifetime mortality risk because of longer exposure to metabolic damage.
Sex differences: many studies report that women with diabetes may have a relatively greater increase in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk compared with men (relative effect size).
Comorbidities: the presence of chronic kidney disease, depression, and diabetic complications is commonly associated with higher mortality risk within diabetes populations.
Family history: people with a first-degree relative with diabetes tend to have higher incidence of diabetes; this group often benefits from earlier screening and earlier prevention actions.

This factor is scored using an event-based logic: the key event is whether you have ever been diagnosed with diabetes.

If diabetes has been diagnosed, the score reflects the long-term mortality impact seen across many cohorts.
If diabetes has not been diagnosed, no penalty is applied in this scoring model.
Family history is discussed as an important risk marker, but a separate family-history score was not found in the scoring source used here.

Category/Range	Score (in years)
Yes	-10.0
No	0.0

If you have a family history of diabetes, start earlier screening (fasting glucose or HbA1c) and repeat it regularly.
Aim for the easiest daily wins first: reduce sugary drinks, add a short walk after meals, and keep a consistent sleep schedule.
If you have prediabetes, focus on weight management (if needed), physical activity, and food quality; small changes can meaningfully reduce progression to diabetes.
If you have diabetes, prioritize cardiovascular risk control: avoid smoking, manage blood pressure, and manage LDL cholesterol alongside glucose control.
Ask your clinician about kidney protection (eGFR and urine albumin checks) and prevention steps if results are abnormal.
Pay attention to mental health; depression and chronic stress can worsen self-care and are linked to worse outcomes in diabetes.
If you are unsure whether you have diabetes, confirm with a clinician and lab testing rather than assuming.