Social isolation, loneliness, and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus by glycemic status
Authors' conclusion
Social isolation and loneliness were independently associated with a higher risk of T2DM among individuals without prediabetes. Among those with prediabetes, the association of social isolation and loneliness with incident T2DM were mainly mediated by some socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants with random blood glucose < 11.1 mmol/l, HbA1c < 6.5 % and no diagnosis of diabetes; social isolation and loneliness self-reported
- Participants
- 358,951 participants
- Exposure
- Social isolation and loneliness vs none, by glycaemic status
- Outcome
- Incident T2D
- Follow-up
- Median 12.5 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, effect modification by prediabetic status, mediation analysis
- UK Biobank
- Effect modification by prediabetic status
- Mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident T2D by glycaemic status
Adjusted hazard ratio (95 % CI)P value
Social isolation (Normoglycemia)
1.14(1.07–1.23)
P < 0.001for interactionLoneliness (Normoglycemia)
1.33(1.20–1.47)
P < 0.001for interactionSocial isolation (Prediabetes)
0.97(0.91–1.03)
P < 0.001for interactionLoneliness (Prediabetes)
1.04(0.95–1.13)
P < 0.001for interaction- Incident T2D cases
- 13,213 (3.7 %)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mediators of social isolation–T2D association in prediabetes
%
- Alcoholic consumption
- 30.9
- Household income
- 23.3
- Healthy sleep
- 17.1
- Loneliness
- 14.9
- Physical activity
- 12.6
Mediators of loneliness–T2D association in prediabetes
%
- BMI
- 17.9
- Healthy sleep
- 17.6
Original publication
Social isolation, loneliness, and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus by glycemic status. Diabetes Metab. Published 20 January 2024. doi:10.
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