Researchers at Taipei Medical University’s College of Medicine in Taiwan reported a noteworthy connection between asthma and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that each condition may raise the risk of developing the other. Findings were presented at a major conference hosted by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, highlighting a growing interest in how these chronic diseases relate to one another across populations.
The investigation drew on data covering a vast real-world population of about 17 million individuals. To unravel the relationship and identify shared factors, the team carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies on asthma and diabetes. Four large medical publication databases were examined, and 14 eligible articles meeting predefined criteria were selected for synthesis. This comprehensive approach helps to illuminate patterns that smaller studies might miss and offers a more stable estimate of the association between the two conditions.
Across the pooled analyses, the results point to a meaningful link between asthma and type 2 diabetes. Specifically, people diagnosed with asthma were found to have roughly a 28% higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those without asthma. Conversely, individuals with diabetes showed an elevated risk of experiencing asthma, with the association approaching a twofold increase in likelihood. These bidirectional associations emphasize the potential shared pathways that may connect airway inflammation, metabolic regulation, and systemic health outcomes.
Experts in the field have proposed several plausible explanations for these observations. Hypertension and dyslipidemia, common cardiovascular risk factors, frequently co-occur with both asthma and diabetes and may contribute to the observed links. Inflammation, immune system dysregulation, and insulin resistance are also considered potential biological bridges that could drive co-occurrence or mutual risk, though more research is needed to delineate causality and directionality.
From a clinical perspective, recognizing the coexistence and potential bidirectional risk between asthma and type 2 diabetes can influence patient management. Health care providers may consider integrated screening strategies and holistic lifestyle interventions that address weight management, physical activity, dietary quality, blood pressure, and lipid control. Such an approach aims not only to optimize control of each condition but also to reduce the overall burden of chronic disease for patients in Canada and the United States and beyond. While the current evidence strengthens the case for a shared-health perspective, researchers caution that observational data can reveal associations but not prove causation. Longitudinal studies and mechanistic research are needed to clarify the exact relationships and to guide targeted prevention and treatment strategies.