Diabetes Meets Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Author: Marcy Burnham, RN

The chronic condition Diabetes mellitus—encompassing both type 1 and type 2—has become a massive global health challenge:

• According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), about 1 in 9 adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes worldwide. 
• It’s estimated that 589 million adults are living with diabetes globally, and that number is projected to rise to 853 million by 2050. 
• The condition comes in two major types:
  • Type 1 diabetes: Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells; less common. 
  • Type 2 diabetes: Insulin resistance or inadequate insulin production; accounts for the vast majority of cases. 
• Many remain undiagnosed: For example, IDF estimates that about 252 million adults are living with diabetes but do not know it. 
• Diabetes isn’t just about high blood sugar—it’s a major risk factor for damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves and eyes. 

Diabetes is both widespread and highly consequential for long-term health.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an abrupt electrical malfunction of the heart leading to the heart stopping its effective pumping activity:

• SCA is not the same as a typical heart attack (blocked artery) though a heart attack can trigger SCA. 
• It often happens without warning: sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing. Key risk factors include heart disease, prior heart attack, high blood pressure or cholesterol, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle—and yes, diabetes. 

When diabetes and heart health risks overlap, the potential for SCA increases. Diabetes contributes to heart and vessel damage, promotes arrhythmias, and often coexists with other risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure, obesity). Addressing diabetes isn’t just about sugar control—it’s fundamentally about protecting the heart.

Below are five prominent mechanisms by which SCA risk rises (especially in people with diabetes or cardiovascular risk), followed by actionable prevention strategies.

1. Vascular and Heart Muscle Damage

• Control blood sugar, blood pressure and lipids.
• Regular check-ups with a cardiologist if you have diabetes.
• Avoid smoking; limit alcohol.
• Use medications as prescribed (statins, antihypertensives).

2. Arrhythmia Risk

• Get periodic ECGs or echocardiograms when recommended.
• Manage underlying heart disease.
• In high-risk cases, evaluation for devices (e.g., implantable cardioverter defibrillator

3. Uncontrolled Diabetes and Metabolic Stress

• For Type 2: prioritize healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, weight management).
• For Type 1: maintain consistent insulin therapy and glucose monitoring.
• Regular review of treatment plan and complication screening (kidneys, eyes, heart).

4. Coexisting Risk Factors

• Aim for at least 150 minutes/week of moderate physical activity. DMC Hospital
• Adopt a heart-healthy diet (rich in fruits/vegetables, lean protein, whole grains; low in processed foods/sugars).
• Smoking cessation and avoidance of second-hand smoke.

5. Lack of Awareness/Late Detection 

• Regular screening for diabetes, especially in high-risk groups (family history, overweight, age>45, etc).
• Routine cardiovascular risk assessment (blood pressure, lipid profile, ECG).
• Understand warning signs of heart trouble (palpitations, fainting, chest discomfort) and act fast—call 911 if someone collapses suddenly

The convergence of diabetes and sudden cardiac arrest risk underscores the interconnected nature of metabolic and cardiovascular health. While the numbers can feel daunting—hundreds of millions living with diabetes, and SCA being a silent killer—the good news is: many of the risk factors are treatable.

By proactively managing diabetes (whether type 1 or type 2), controlling associated cardiovascular risks, living a heart-healthy lifestyle, and staying alert for warning signs, we tilt the odds in favor of prevention rather than reaction.