Lifestyle factors and mortality risk in individuals with diabetes mellitus: are the associations different from those in individuals without diabetes?

• Published in: Diabetologia 2014, Vol.57 (1), p.63-72
• Main Authors: Sluik, Diewertje, Boeing, Heiner, Li, Kuanrong, Kaaks, Rudolf, Johnsen, Nina Føns, Tjønneland, Anne, Arriola, Larraitz, Barricarte, Aurelio, Masala, Giovanna, Grioni, Sara, Tumino, Rosario, Ricceri, Fulvio, Mattiello, Amalia, Spijkerman, Annemieke M. W., van der A, Daphne L., Sluijs, Ivonne, Franks, Paul W., Nilsson, Peter M., Orho-Melander, Marju, Fhärm, Eva, Rolandsson, Olov, Riboli, Elio, Romaguera, Dora, Weiderpass, Elisabete, Sánchez-Cantalejo, Emilio, Nöthlings, Ute
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: activity; Adiposity; Alcohol; american-heart-association; Biological and medical sciences; cancer; Cancer research; Cardiovascular disease; Clinical Medicine; clinical-research; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus - mortality; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; dietary-fat; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinology and Diabetes; Endocrinopathies; Endokrinologi och diabetes; Epidemiology; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Exercise; Fabaceae; Female; food frequency questionnaire; Fruit; Health care; Health sciences; Hospitals; Human Physiology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Klinisk medicin; Life Style; Lifestyle; Lifestyles; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical research; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; missing data; Mortality; Motor Activity - physiology; multiple imputation; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Physical; Physical activity; Prospective Studies; Public health; relative validity; Risk Factors; Smoking
• ISSN: 0012-186X; 1432-0428; 1432-0428
• DOI: 10.1007/s00125-013-3074-y

Aims/hypothesis Thus far, it is unclear whether lifestyle recommendations for people with diabetes should be different from those for the general public. We investigated whether the associations between lifestyle factors and mortality risk differ between individuals with and without diabetes. Methods Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), a cohort was formed of 6,384 persons with diabetes and 258,911 EPIC participants without known diabetes. Joint Cox proportional hazard regression models of people with and without diabetes were built for the following lifestyle factors in relation to overall mortality risk: BMI, waist/height ratio, 26 food groups, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity, smoking. Likelihood ratio tests for heterogeneity assessed statistical differences in regression coefficients. Results Multivariable adjusted mortality risk among individuals with diabetes compared with those without was increased, with an HR of 1.62 (95% CI 1.51, 1.75). Intake of fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds, pasta, poultry and vegetable oil was related to a lower mortality risk, and intake of butter and margarine was related to an increased mortality risk. These associations were significantly different in magnitude from those in diabetes-free individuals, but directions were similar. No differences between people with and without diabetes were detected for the other lifestyle factors. Conclusions/interpretation Diabetes status did not substantially influence the associations between lifestyle and mortality risk. People with diabetes may benefit more from a healthy diet, but the directions of association were similar. Thus, our study suggests that lifestyle advice with respect to mortality for patients with diabetes should not differ from recommendations for the general population.