Did you know that if you have type 2 diabetes, you might be more prone to infections than others? This is a big deal because infections can complicate diabetes management and overall health. In a recent analysis of 70 studies, it was found that severe gum disease affected about 1 in 3 people with diabetes, while lung infections were the most frequent, impacting nearly 1 in 100 each year. Other common infections included skin and urinary tract infections. These findings are crucial for patients and healthcare providers alike, as they point to the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures. However, it’s important to remember that while these statistics highlight a trend, individual experiences can vary widely, and not everyone with diabetes will face these issues. Moving forward, healthcare teams should prioritize infection prevention as part of diabetes care, ensuring that patients receive the support they need to stay healthy.
Are Infections Hitting People with Type 2 Diabetes Harder Than We Thought?
Plain Language Summary
What this means for you:
People with type 2 diabetes need to be vigilant about infections, especially gum and lung issues, for better health. What this means for you:
People with type 2 diabetes need to be vigilant about infections, especially gum and lung issues, for better health. View Original Abstract ↓
BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests a greater susceptibility of type 2 diabetes to infections, the prevalence and incidence of different types of infections vary greatly, affecting clinical decision-making. We aimed to estimate the aggregate prevalence and incidence of infections among people with type 2 diabetes.
METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to August 2025. We combined the terms type 2 diabetes, infection, and prevalence/incidence for the search. We included studies with data on infection prevalence (percentage) and/or incidence (number of person-years at risk) among patients with type 2 diabetes. We used the quality-effects model to estimate effects and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS: We included 70 studies in this meta-analysis. Severe periodontitis had the highest pooled prevalence among people with type 2 diabetes (33.6%; 95% CI = 23.7-44.2), followed by skin infections (28.6%; 95% CI = 20.7-37.2) and urinary tract infections (9.7%; 95% CI = 6.5-13.5). Lower respiratory tract infections had the highest pooled incidence per 10 000 person-years (1409.2; 95% CI = 1048.1-1894.6), followed by skin infections (664.1; 95% CI = 39.4-11203.9), upper respiratory tract infections (553.6; 95% CI = 12.7-24149.2) and urinary tract infections (500.6; 95% CI = 171.3-1462.6).
CONCLUSIONS: Among people with type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of severe periodontitis and the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections were the highest. We pinpointed recently prevalent high-occurrence infections in type 2 diabetes, helping to update surveillance and control priorities for diabetes care.
REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42024489267.