Type 2 diabetes & life expectancy
Type 2 diabetes raises cardiovascular risk, but good control roughly halves the impact.
Why it matters (the mechanism)
High blood glucose damages blood vessels and nerves over time; tight control and weight loss can slow or even reverse early disease.
The evidence
Type 2 diabetes is associated with 4–8 fewer years of life expectancy and doubled cardiovascular risk; well-controlled glucose cuts complications by up to 50% (American Diabetes Association, 2023).
What to do
- Work with your clinician to keep HbA1c in target — control is what protects the years.
- Weight loss and activity can dramatically improve, and sometimes remit, early type 2 diabetes.
- Manage blood pressure and cholesterol alongside glucose — the risks compound.
- Attend eye, foot and kidney checks to prevent complications.
And the chance of reaching 100?
Your odds of reaching 100 rise steeply with your overall forecast. As an illustration, a forecast age of 85 implies roughly a 6.7% chance of reaching 100; a forecast of 92 implies around 21%. Factors like type 2 diabetes shift where your forecast lands. Get your personal figure in the calculator.
These figures are population-average estimates from peer-reviewed research, applied on top of the official life-table baseline for your country, sex and birth cohort — the US Social Security Administration period life tables, the UK Office for National Statistics, and the WHO Global Health Observatory. They describe statistical tendencies, not personal certainties, and are not medical advice.
Other factors
Frequently Asked Questions
See how type 2 diabetes and everything else combine in your forecast — plus your chance of reaching 100.
Life Expectancy Calculator →