The Link Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Authored by: Dr Matthew Lee; BMSc, MBBS, MSc

Last reviewed: May 2025

What's in this PocDoc Article:

• What is Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and why is it important?
• CVD is a growing problem in the UK
• How Type 2 diabetes increases CVD risk
• Who is most at risk for Diabetes and CVD
• How to reduce your risk
• Why regular health checks matter

Across the UK, an estimated 4.9 million individuals are living with diabetes, with 90% being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, many people are unaware that if you are living with type 2 diabetes, you are three times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, one of the UK’s leading causes of preventable death.

Every week, type 2 diabetes contributes to around 2900 cases of heart attack and heart failure nationwide. These could have been avoided, considering that both type 2 diabetes and CVD are preventable.

Data looking at prevention shows that:

• Around half of all type 2 diabetes cases could have been prevented or delayed.

• 80% of all CVD cases could have been prevented.

The good news is that by understanding the connection between type 2 diabetes and CVD, we can take preventive action that will help to reduce the risk of developing both conditions.

What is Cardiovascular disease and why is it important?

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is an umbrella term for diseases of the heart and blood vessels including, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and aortic disease. To learn more about cardiovascular disease risk factors, read our Guide to Cardiovascular Disease.

CVD is a growing problem in the UK 

Currently, around 7.6 million individuals across the UK are living with cardiovascular disease, which accounts for a quarter of all deaths annually. It is estimated that more than half of the UK’s population will experience CVD in their lifetime, according to the British Heart Foundation.

Understanding CVD risk factors

Various factors can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These include:

• Diet: Sticking to healthy eating patterns consistently shows lower risks of developing cardiovascular disease.

• Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle is a well-recognised risk factor for CVD. Regular physical activity can help reduce this risk.

• Type 2 Diabetes: A build-up of glucose can lead to the blockage of blood vessels, which can starve the heart of oxygen, resulting in a heart attack.

To learn more about cardiovascular disease risk factors, read our Guide to Cardiovascular Disease.

How Type 2 diabetes increases CVD risk

Type 2 diabetes occurs when there is a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream due to not enough insulin being produced or the body’s cells not reacting to the insulin.

Persistently high glucose levels damage blood vessel walls through a process called glycation, which makes arteries more prone to atherosclerosis (narrowing due to plaque build-up). This reduced flexibility and narrowing of the arteries raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Research has shown that people living with type 2 diabetes have a 21% higher risk of developing heart disease compared to those without type 2 diabetes.

Diagram showing various conditions associated with diabetes

Each week in the UK, it is estimated that diabetes causes:

• 2,300 cases of heart failure,
• 590 heart attacks (myocardial infarction)
• 770 strokes

Who is most at risk for Diabetes and CVD

Certain individuals have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which significantly increases their chance of developing CVD. These individuals include:

Individuals of Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean ethnicity are 2-4 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This heightened risk arises from a combination of genetic predispositions, lifestyle and environmental factors:

• Genetic Factors: How the body handles insulin: Some ethnic groups, including South Asian populations, have certain genetic variations that can impair insulin secretion and glucose metabolism, increasing the risk of diabetes. These ethnic groups tend to develop diabetes at a younger age and are more likely to experience complications sooner.

• Body Fat Distribution: For example, persons of South Asian descent often exhibit higher visceral fat levels at lower BMIs, contributing to insulin resistance and elevated diabetes risk.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

• Dietary Habits: Traditional diets rich in refined carbohydrates and sugars, common in some South Asian and African Caribbean cultures, can elevate diabetes risk. ​

• Socioeconomic Status: Higher levels of socioeconomic deprivation among certain ethnic groups are linked to increased diabetes prevalence. ​

• Healthcare Access: Barriers such as language differences, cultural beliefs, and limited access to healthcare services can impede effective diabetes management, further increasing the risk of diabetic complications. ​

Diagram showing the prevalence of diabetes in certain ethnicities

Other factors that contribute to the risk of both Diabetes and CVD include:

• Age: Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases if you are over the age of 40. If you are Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean, you are at an increased risk over the age of 25.

• Family History: Individuals with type 2 diabetes are 2-6 times more likely to have diabetes than those without a family history.

• Location: Research shows that people living in low-income households are 2.3 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than those in high-income households. To read more on how disadvantaged areas are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, click here.

• Obesity: People living with obesity are seven times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those at a healthy weight. Those who are overweight face three times the risk. This makes excess weight one of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

• Poor diet: Foods high in saturated fats, such as processed food and fatty meats, can raise LDL levels in the body, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Smoking: Smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol (‘good cholesterol) levels and makes your LDL cholesterol ‘stickier’ which can result in clogged arteries. Smoking also increases your risk of diabetes as well as diabetes related complications such as kidney failure and blindness.

• Alcohol consumption: High alcohol consumption increases triglyceride levels in the body, which increases cholesterol in the blood. Excess alcohol consumption can also lead to weight gain which increases type 2 diabetes risk.

• High blood pressure: This can result in the build-up of fatty material in your arteries which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure also increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

How to reduce your risk

Research has shown that lifestyle changes such as improving your diet, increasing physical activity and losing weight can help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 50%. Here are some lifestyle changes to consider making:

Improving Diet

1. Reducing your added sugar intake can help to lower your type 2 diabetes risk. The NHS recommends that your daily sugar intake should be:

• Adults should have no more than 30g of added sugars a day which equals, 7 sugar cubes.

• Children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than 24g of added sugars a day, which equals 6 sugar cubes.

• Children aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19g of added sugars a day, which equals 5 sugar cubes.

2. Individuals should aim to reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), such as packaged cakes and doughnuts, which are often high in sugar, preservatives, and low in fibre. The NHS Eatwell Guide recommends consuming 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and choosing wholegrain versions of starchy foods where possible to support better blood sugar control and overall health.

Increasing Physical Activity

Exercising more has been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and CVD. Consider including more activities that get you out of breath in your daily routine, such as fast walking, climbing stairs and strenuous housework. The NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, spread evenly over 4 to 5 days.

Weight Loss

Losing weight can help you to reduce your type 2 diabetes risk. Most adults should aim for a healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9. Studies have shown that individuals who have lost 5-10% of their body mass showed significant improvement in their blood glucose levels, total cholesterol levels and triglycerides.

Additional healthy changes you can add to your lifestyle include:

• Reducing your alcohol intake: Aim to reduce your alcohol intake to the NHS’s recommended level of 14 units of alcohol per week or below.

• Quit smoking: Consider quitting smoking to help reduce your risk of both type 2 diabetes and CVD. Research has shown individuals who smoke have a 30-40% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who don’t smoke.

Why Regular health checks matter

Considering that both type 2 diabetes and CVD are preventable, early detection of risk and intervention is crucial. In addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, individuals can benefit greatly from regularly monitoring their HbA1c levels as part of their prevention plan.

PocDoc allows you to take control of your health with the Diabetes Health Check, which can help you to check your HbA1c levels in the comfort of your own home.

With the Diabetes Health Check, you can:

• Monitor your HbA1c levels at home

• Get a deeper understanding of how your diet and lifestyle impact your HbA1c

• Use the health insights to take actionable steps to help improve your health before major complications arise

In addition to monitoring your HbA1c levels, you can use your Diabetes Health Check and the Healthy Heart Check to get deeper insights into your overall health and your risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Healthy Heart Check will allow you to:

• Get insights on your full cholesterol profile

• Monitor your BMI

• Know your heart age

• Know your 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke