Taking diabetes medication consistently could reduce heart disease risk, study finds
People with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who consistently take their prescribed glucose-lowering medication are significantly less likely to experience serious cardiovascular problems, according to a major new study.
Researchers analysed the long-term medication habits of almost 80,000 adults with type 2 diabetes and found that those who maintained high levels of adherence to their treatment had a substantially lower risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke over the following decade.
The nationwide Danish study followed 79,510 adults who began non-insulin glucose-lowering medication between 2005 and 2012. Using pharmacy dispensing records, researchers tracked how regularly participants collected their prescriptions and identified three distinct patterns of medication adherence: high, intermediate and low.
Over 10 years of follow-up, more than 15,000 participants experienced a major cardiovascular event, including ischaemic heart disease, stroke or heart failure.
Compared with those who consistently took their medication, people with intermediate adherence had a seven per cent higher risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event. Those with low adherence faced a 27 per cent higher risk.
Researchers also found that participants with high adherence remained free from cardiovascular events for an average of 220 additional days over the 10-year study period compared with those in the low-adherence group.
The difference was driven primarily by rates of ischaemic heart disease, while no significant association was found between medication adherence and the risk of heart failure.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among people living with type 2 diabetes, making effective long-term disease management essential. While glucose-lowering medication is routinely prescribed to help control blood sugar levels, the study suggests that taking medication consistently may also play an important role in protecting long-term heart health.
Researchers say the findings highlight the need for greater support to help people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes remain on their prescribed treatment. Around one in four participants in the study fell into the low-adherence group, suggesting that maintaining medication routines remains a significant challenge for many people living with the condition.
The researchers conclude that sustained adherence to glucose-lowering medication is associated with a lower rate of cardiovascular events and longer event-free survival among people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, reinforcing the importance of supporting people to maintain their treatment over the long term.
To read the study, visit https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(26)00207-3/fulltext.