New Heart Treatment Cuts Diabetes Death Risk by 61%

Scientists have cracked a stubborn medical puzzle that's been putting millions of diabetic patients at risk for heart attacks and death.

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong found that pairing an innovative imaging system called caFFR with SGLT2 inhibitor drugs can dramatically improve survival for people battling both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The results are stunning: death rates dropped from 16.3% to just 6.3% over three years.

The challenge has always been that diabetic patients develop especially complex heart blockages. Their arteries often have multiple narrowed sections that are difficult to treat completely, leaving dangerous weak spots that standard imaging misses.

Professor Yiu Kai-hang led a team that studied 671 patients between 2014 and 2016 in Hong Kong public hospitals. They used the caFFR system, which creates detailed maps of blood flow from regular angiogram images, helping doctors pinpoint exactly which blockages are truly dangerous.

But here's where it gets exciting. Even when doctors couldn't fully clear all the blockages, adding SGLT2 inhibitors (a diabetes medication) provided powerful backup protection. Major heart events plummeted from 17.8% to 8.3%.

"This dual approach represents a major step forward in managing heart disease among individuals with diabetes," Professor Yiu explained. The imaging helps doctors work smarter, while the medication acts as a safety net for whatever risks remain.

The beauty of this approach is its practicality. The caFFR system works with equipment hospitals already have, and SGLT2 inhibitors are existing diabetes drugs that doctors can prescribe today.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery could transform care for the estimated 537 million adults worldwide living with diabetes, many of whom face elevated heart disease risk. The combination strategy gives doctors two powerful tools instead of one, dramatically improving the odds for patients who previously had limited options.

The research team emphasized that this isn't just about fixing blood vessels or managing blood sugar in isolation. It's about protecting the heart from multiple angles, addressing both the structural damage and the metabolic dysfunction that makes diabetic heart disease so deadly.

Hospitals can implement these strategies immediately using currently available technology and medications. That means patients could start benefiting from this approach right now, without waiting years for new drugs or devices to reach the market.

For people living with diabetes and heart disease, this breakthrough transforms a frightening diagnosis into something far more manageable, offering both precision and protection when they need it most.